1
2
as in irritable
easily irritated or annoyed
she dreaded having to deal with her prickly boss
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
4
as in difficult
requiring exceptional skill or caution in performance or handling
a prickly issue that will outrage at least one special interest if not handled delicately
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of prickly
Surrounded by vast desert, the long and windy road that leads to Nancy Guthrie’s home in the Catalina Foothills is dotted with prickly cacti and attractive houses.
—
Amanda Musa, CNN Money, 4 Feb. 2026
The prickly exchange went viral and prompted bipartisan criticism and questioning of her temperament.
—Barnini Chakraborty, The Washington Examiner, 4 Feb. 2026
O’Hara weaponized her prickly persona — one that would become nuclear in her Emmy-winning turn in Schitt’s Creek a generation later — as Delia Deetz in this Tim Burton classic.
—Brian Tallerico, Vulture, 31 Jan. 2026
As is well-known to anybody who follows the NFL, Kraft and Belichick have a prickly relationship.
—Steve Buckley, New York Times, 30 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for prickly
Amanda Musa, CNN Money, 4 Feb. 2026
The prickly exchange went viral and prompted bipartisan criticism and questioning of her temperament.
—Barnini Chakraborty, The Washington Examiner, 4 Feb. 2026
O’Hara weaponized her prickly persona — one that would become nuclear in her Emmy-winning turn in Schitt’s Creek a generation later — as Delia Deetz in this Tim Burton classic.
—Brian Tallerico, Vulture, 31 Jan. 2026
As is well-known to anybody who follows the NFL, Kraft and Belichick have a prickly relationship.
—Steve Buckley, New York Times, 30 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for prickly
Recent Examples of Synonyms for prickly
Adjective
-
Rubbing alcohol isn’t corrosive to metals, doesn’t stain clothes, and doesn’t cause the same irritating fumes as working with bleach does.—
Andy Wilcox,
Better Homes & Gardens,
3 Feb. 2026
-
The hypoallergenic face serum is free from potentially irritating ingredients, such as parabens and synthetic fragrances, too.—
Lauren Taylor,
Southern Living,
30 Jan. 2026
Adjective
-
Manic episodes are described as prolonged periods of mood instability, in which a person can experience extreme increases in energy or euphoria, or alternatively, feel depressed or unusually irritable.—
Edward Segarra,
USA Today,
24 Feb. 2026
-
Lack of sleep can lead to a range of problems, including feeling more irritable.—
Michelle Mastro,
The Spruce,
7 Feb. 2026
Adjective
-
Along with the legality of the tariffs, the high court had been expected to decide the thorny question of how to potentially refund the nearly $300 billion collected so far, which the plaintiffs demanded.—
Dave Goldiner,
New York Daily News,
20 Feb. 2026
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What of the opinions of a cast as capable and discreet as this one (Florence Hunt rounds out the quartet as Amanda’s teenage daughter) on the thorny nature of the material?—
Ritesh Mehta,
IndieWire,
18 Feb. 2026
Adjective
-
But having dodged the traps of the social media news era, The Economist now faces looming long-term structural challenges that may be more difficult to avoid.—
Max Tani,
semafor.com,
23 Feb. 2026
-
Frontflips are generally more difficult than backflips for both humans and robots.—
Jijo Malayil,
Interesting Engineering,
23 Feb. 2026
Adjective
-
The footage shows members of the divided House Targaryen going into battle, with plenty of fiery dragon action.—
James Hibberd,
HollywoodReporter,
19 Feb. 2026
-
Where was my fiery disdain when ICE invaded (and is still invading) Portland, Chicago, and Los Angeles last year?—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
19 Feb. 2026
Adjective
-
The sidewalks were already frozen slick early in December, and my body was rigid from the jagged cold.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
19 Feb. 2026
-
Kimberley Alpine Resort is surrounded by jagged peaks, and its car-free downtown feels like a snow globe, complete with a quaint look and quiet atmosphere.—
Evie Carrick,
Travel + Leisure,
17 Feb. 2026
Adjective
-
His sloped shoulders suggested bodily power that was sleepy and sly; his large head and dark, badly cut hair amplified the weight and solidity of him, but his lips were sensitive and a little slack, as if yearning for something he’d been long deprived of.—
Mary Gaitskill,
New Yorker,
22 Feb. 2026
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Derived from eucalyptus wood, the material is gentle on sensitive skin, manages moisture, and has a silky, luxe texture.—
Mariana Best,
Better Homes & Gardens,
22 Feb. 2026
Adjective
-
The material is soft and never scratchy, and the tassels hold their shape well over time.—
Sophie Dodd,
Travel + Leisure,
23 Feb. 2026
-
Scrub them with the scratchy side of a sponge, and make sure to dry the wood immediately so that extra water doesn't linger.—
Shagun Khare,
The Spruce,
21 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Prickly.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/prickly. Accessed 26 Feb. 2026.
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