as in poking
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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as in stinging
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Dissimilar Words
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
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Recent Examples of prickling
Jasmine Laws, MSNBC Newsweek, 13 Oct. 2025
Discomfort, such as a prickling sensation, at the site of the bite is also possible.
—Katia Hetter, CNN Money, 18 Sep. 2025
Whitefish salad prickling with chile and festooned with great tufts of cilantro.
—Bon Appétit Staff & Contributors, Bon Appetit Magazine, 20 Aug. 2025
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
Adjective
It is spread to people and pets through the bites and scratches of an infected animal, and first symptoms may include flu, weakness, discomfort, fever, headache, as well as a prickling sensation at the site of the wound, before turning into more severe disease after around two weeks.
—Jasmine Laws, MSNBC Newsweek, 13 Oct. 2025
Discomfort, such as a prickling sensation, at the site of the bite is also possible.
—Katia Hetter, CNN Money, 18 Sep. 2025
Whitefish salad prickling with chile and festooned with great tufts of cilantro.
—Bon Appétit Staff & Contributors, Bon Appetit Magazine, 20 Aug. 2025
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
Recent Examples of Synonyms for prickling
Verb
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Meanwhile, Bad Bunny has commented little, save for an SNL monologue poking fun at the situation.—
Rolling Stone,
Rolling Stone,
12 Oct. 2025
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The bit kicked off by poking fun at the Senate hearing that took place earlier this week.—
McKinley Franklin,
HollywoodReporter,
12 Oct. 2025
Adjective
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Terry Smith will serve as the interim head coach for the rest of the season for the Nittany Lions (3-3, 0-3 Big Ten), who began the year with hopes of winning the national title only to have those hopes evaporate by early October with three consecutive losses, each one more stinging than the last.—
Travis Johnson,
Denver Post,
12 Oct. 2025
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In the end, however, Disney handed a stinging defeat to Peltz.—
Morgan Chittum,
CNBC,
2 Oct. 2025
Verb
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The album is a triumphant release that balances anger and grief and, at times, surprising joy, with Estrada’s bright, lilting soprano piercing through the veil of her pain.—
Cat Cardenas,
Rolling Stone,
13 Oct. 2025
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While the rest of his body was a meandering ghost, his eyes were molten rage-arrows piercing the other people onstage.—
Betty Gilpin,
HollywoodReporter,
9 Oct. 2025
Adjective
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No big credit red flags, though corporate credit spreads are up off their lows in recent weeks and the nagging questions about a couple of private-debt blowups are on repeat.—
Michael Santoli,
CNBC,
14 Oct. 2025
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But even as the house buzzed with happiness, Shannel was battling a nagging headache.—
Jordan Greene,
PEOPLE,
14 Oct. 2025
Verb
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The star has been open about her symptoms, including numbness and tingling, before her diagnosis, and found comfort in finding a community.—
Lea Veloso,
StyleCaster,
10 Oct. 2025
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Redshirt freshman quarterback Caden Pinnick of Del Oro High School roots last week against Weber State suffered a shoulder stinger from a hard hit, leading to brief tingling sensations.—
Joe Davidson,
Sacbee.com,
2 Oct. 2025
Adjective
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Please tell me the sequel could answer the most burning question of the ’00s: How could Austin not recognize Sam in that mask?—
Stephanie McNeal,
Glamour,
13 Aug. 2025
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Cooper, 30, asked Hargitay one more burning question about the actors' on-screen alter egos: will Olivia and Elliot ever end up together?—
Victoria Edel,
People.com,
26 June 2025
Verb
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Kim has called for the development of multi-warhead systems that would improve the chances of penetrating missile defenses, and some experts say the Hwasong-20 could be designed for that purpose.—
Jason Ma,
Fortune,
12 Oct. 2025
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Commercial grout cleaners can be more effective than DIY solutions since these cleaners have a higher concentration of penetrating chemicals.—
Ashlyn Needham,
Southern Living,
10 Oct. 2025
Adjective
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And at that moment, in that quiet locker room, with that swollen knee, Corbett didn’t know what to say.—
Alex Zietlow,
Charlotte Observer,
15 Oct. 2025
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Sterling Glass had many health problems as a child—swollen feet, night sweats, nausea and vomiting, unquenchable thirst, and fatigue that often left him too exhausted to go to school.—
Liz Szabo,
Scientific American,
14 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Prickling.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/prickling. Accessed 20 Oct. 2025.
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