as in to pierce
to cause or experience an unpleasant feeling that is like the feeling of having many small, sharp points against your skin
The burrs were prickling my arm. The wool sweater prickled my skin.
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of prickle
Peter Rowe, San Diego Union-Tribune, 15 Aug. 2025
One tower looks like a concrete satellite, another like a Dyson fan, and the tallest is prickled with reflective lights, like the ones that keep airplanes off oil rigs.
—Adriane Quinlan, Curbed, 30 May 2025
Spencer Kornhaber, The Atlantic, 29 Mar. 2024
Paul Leonard-Morgan’s score is haunting and foreboding, making the hairs on the back of our neck prickle.
—Courtney Howard, Variety, 16 Mar. 2023
See All Example Sentences for prickle
Verb
Jakobus speaks in an Old World dialect, Pilsner, delivering brisk herbal aromas, hints of fresh levain bread and a prickling hop bitterness.
—Peter Rowe, San Diego Union-Tribune, 15 Aug. 2025
One tower looks like a concrete satellite, another like a Dyson fan, and the tallest is prickled with reflective lights, like the ones that keep airplanes off oil rigs.
—Adriane Quinlan, Curbed, 30 May 2025
Noun
The guitar riff prickles nervously; the melody pleads in the manner of a hungry pet; Parton sings, in a trembling tone, about the woman who could and very well might take her man.
—Spencer Kornhaber, The Atlantic, 29 Mar. 2024
Paul Leonard-Morgan’s score is haunting and foreboding, making the hairs on the back of our neck prickle.
—Courtney Howard, Variety, 16 Mar. 2023
See All Example Sentences for prickle
Recent Examples of Synonyms for prickle
Verb
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For Edelberto’s brother, Amilcar Hernandez, the death has been piercing and painful.—
Kevin G. Hall,
Miami Herald,
7 Nov. 2025
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In September, Manow posted a photo of her bloodied face and said Clateman knocked out her dermal piercing during a fight.—
Kieran Press-Reynolds,
Pitchfork,
6 Nov. 2025
Noun
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Energy experts often link soaring electric bills to a rising demand for energy, without a concurrent spike in supply.—
Sophie Hartley,
IndyStar,
10 Nov. 2025
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The most dangerous change might be the spike in overnight temperatures, which robs resting bodies of the chance to recover from daytime heat, thus contributing to as many as 600 excess deaths from heat each year.—
Vann R. Newkirk II,
The Atlantic,
10 Nov. 2025
Verb
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The two-minute intro video poked gentle fun at British TV, gender politics, and artificial intelligence — and was made entirely with AI.—
Gene Maddaus,
Variety,
11 Nov. 2025
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Shoving, tapping, poking and generally wanting to clobber the person snoring beside you doesn’t exactly put anyone in the mood for love either.—
Ian Kerner,
CNN Money,
11 Nov. 2025
Noun
-
The race has been marked by barbs between Huffman and Wambsganss, as both try to win over the conservative vote, and flowing money, as billionaires waded into the North Texas election.—
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
5 Nov. 2025
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In recent months, the 79-year-old has traded barbs with Stephen Colbert, Jimmy Kimmel and Jimmy Fallon, too.—
Megan Cartwright,
MSNBC Newsweek,
4 Nov. 2025
Verb
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But voters who showed up to the polls on Tuesday had a different point of view and delivered stinging defeats to Republicans.—
Jason Ma,
Fortune,
8 Nov. 2025
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In February, Vance delivered a stinging message to European allies, saying that the biggest threat to Europe did not come from Russia or China, but from within Europe itself, and that he was concerned Europe was moving toward censorship and away from democracy.—
Hannah Demissie,
ABC News,
7 Nov. 2025
Noun
-
Lemon had a career-high 161 yards through the air and Lane’s 74 included several diving snags and one spectacular one-hander in the end zone despite tight coverage.—
Mirjam Swanson,
Oc Register,
8 Nov. 2025
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Close all zippers and fasteners to prevent snags or tears.—
Mary Marlowe Leverette,
Southern Living,
8 Nov. 2025
Verb
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Eloise could be seen wearing a pink sweatshirt and matching pink sweatpants as Elliot bent down to tickle her foot.—
Hannah Sacks,
PEOPLE,
7 Nov. 2025
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The scoring was welcome, certainly, on a team that didn’t tickle the net until nearly eight minutes into it.—
Mark Zeigler,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
19 Oct. 2025
Noun
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Davison asked his son to find any kind of tape, including the dinosaur sticker.—
Samira Asma-Sadeque,
PEOPLE,
29 Oct. 2025
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And when there's a sale sticker involved?—
Lily Wohlner,
Allure,
29 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Prickle.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/prickle. Accessed 19 Nov. 2025.
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