PRICKLING Synonyms: 63 Similar and Opposite Words

prickling 1 of 2

adjective

as in stinging

Related Words

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Dissimilar Words

prickling

2 of 2

verb

present participle of prickle

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.

Related Words

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Recent Examples of prickling

Verb

Initial symptoms of rabies include flu-like illness including weakness or discomfort, fever, or headache, and discomfort, prickling, or an itching sensation at the site of the bite. — Don Sweeney, Sacbee.com, 3 Aug. 2026 As Luke walks off, his shirt undone and his furry belly prickling in the desert cold, Danny turns and stares out into the backyard. — Brian Moylan, Vulture, 16 Apr. 2026 Retatrutide has shown similar side effects, as well as a prickling sensation known as dysesthesia. — Meg Tirrell, CNN Money, 19 Mar. 2026 People with peripheral neuropathy may experience pins and needles sensations, such as tingling and prickling, in their extremities. — Laura Dorwart, Health, 22 Dec. 2025 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 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

Adjective

Biting and stinging arthropods, such as wasps, mosquitos and spiders, account for five states.

— Bonny Chu, FOXNews.com, 3 Aug. 2026
That move came just as the clock was running out Friday on stopgap levies the president imposed after a stinging defeat for other tariffs at the Supreme Court.

— ABC News, ABC News, 24 July 2026

Definition of stinging

Verb

At first glance, corals present as little more than colorful rocks — piles of lobes, stalagmites, and branches poking out from the seafloor.

— Marlowe Starling, Quanta Magazine, 5 Aug. 2026
Carpenter suggests applying it to vertical surfaces, or using soaked cotton balls in open glass jars (or poking holes in the lids to allow the fumes to escape).

— The Spruce, The Spruce, 4 Aug. 2026

Definition of poking

Adjective

Mike Evans and Christian Kirk, the centerpieces of the offseason moves, are battling nagging injuries.

— Darren Cooper, Forbes.com, 6 Aug. 2026
Yes, even better than the Dodgers, particularly if Shohei Ohtani is unable to return to pitching thanks to his nagging knee injury.

— Ian Miller OutKick, FOXNews.com, 2 Aug. 2026

Definition of nagging

Verb

His piercing blue eyes shone through, despite the facial prosthetics covering every inch of his skin.

— Hannah Malach, InStyle, 30 July 2026
Their headlamps piercing the watery dark, the group swims along (only Sara has accepted a life jacket), admiring the bats and stalactites while Wat reminds them to respect the caves.

— Culture Critic, Los Angeles Times, 29 July 2026

Definition of piercing

Adjective

Dickerson was the first physician to treat Mike Studeny, who was diagnosed with a non-bleeding stroke.

— Christa Swanson, CBS News, 9 May 2026
In tests using mice, after surgical damage to the liver, AGCL was able to perform significantly better than other current anti-bleeding agents, with normal liver function returning just two weeks after its application.

— New Atlas, New Atlas, 21 Jan. 2026

Definition of bleeding

Verb

Symptoms can include arm or leg pain, numbness, weakness and tingling, and Mayo Clinic advises calling a doctor if pain in the neck or back spreads to an arm or leg.

— Samantha Agate, Charlotte Observer, 25 July 2026
Pain, numbness or tingling that radiates from the neck or back into the arm or hand, the Mayo Clinic warning sign for a herniated disc affecting upper-extremity strength.

— Samantha Agate, Sacbee.com, 25 July 2026

Definition of tingling

Adjective

Prosecutors said some of the money was used for recruiting new members and purchasing Ku Klux Klan robes and materials for cross-burning ceremonies.

— ABC News, ABC News, 7 July 2026
In the case of the cross-burning incident, there is no comparison to the Jussie Smollett case.

— Chicago Tribune, Chicago Tribune, 19 June 2026

Definition of burning

Verb

Its ability to change direction during flight is intended to increase the chances of penetrating sophisticated air defense networks and striking high-value military assets.

— Prabhat Ranjan Mishra, Interesting Engineering, 5 Aug. 2026
Built by Northrop Grumman, the B-21 is designed to carry both conventional and nuclear weapons while penetrating advanced enemy air defenses.

— Brittany Miller, FOXNews.com, 4 Aug. 2026

Definition of penetrating

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Style

“Prickling.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/prickling. Accessed 9 Aug. 2026.

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Synonyms of prickling

adjective

verb

Example Sentences

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