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
Now, Taiwan is concentrating resources on making the island the equivalent of a porcupine—prickly to touch and impossible to swallow.
—
Philip H. Gordon, Foreign Affairs, 22 Sep. 2025
So start scrolling to discover the products our touchiest of testers trust with their prickly complexions.
—Sophia Panych, Allure, 16 Sep. 2025
When the sun sets in the Pacific Northwest, indigo skies push up against a treeline of prickly Douglas firs and spacious hemlocks.
—Nina Corcoran, Pitchfork, 16 Sep. 2025
The Dungeon Master side is a bit more prickly as there’s a combat tracker to write on and a small rules booklet to manage.
—Rob Wieland, Forbes.com, 10 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for prickly
Philip H. Gordon, Foreign Affairs, 22 Sep. 2025
So start scrolling to discover the products our touchiest of testers trust with their prickly complexions.
—Sophia Panych, Allure, 16 Sep. 2025
When the sun sets in the Pacific Northwest, indigo skies push up against a treeline of prickly Douglas firs and spacious hemlocks.
—Nina Corcoran, Pitchfork, 16 Sep. 2025
The Dungeon Master side is a bit more prickly as there’s a combat tracker to write on and a small rules booklet to manage.
—Rob Wieland, Forbes.com, 10 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for prickly
Recent Examples of Synonyms for prickly
Adjective
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Critics note the time and effort needed to remove stubborn labels—after all, few things are more irritating than peeling off a label and being met with sticky residue.—
Caelan McMichael,
Allure,
7 Oct. 2025
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Dermatologically tested and non-irritating, Coperni C+ is crafted from materials engineered to support both your skin and body, marking a bold new step in the future of functional fashion.—
Mecca Pryor,
Essence,
6 Oct. 2025
Adjective
-
However, such symptoms are hard to attribute to vaccines because infants can be irritable or fussy regardless of vaccination.—
Aria Bendix,
NBC news,
19 Sep. 2025
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When the caffeine wears off, children may have a headache and feel irritable or tired.—
Dr. Mark Corkins,
Boston Herald,
14 Sep. 2025
Adjective
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Then comes the real work of actually governing the world’s fourth-largest economy, with the future prime minister inheriting a slate of thorny issues.—
Jessie Yeung,
CNN Money,
3 Oct. 2025
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The plan treads lightly on thornier topics, like the role of the Palestinian Authority, The New York Times noted.—
Semafor Events,
semafor.com,
2 Oct. 2025
Adjective
-
Travel could be very difficult to impossible.—
CA Weather Bot,
Sacbee.com,
12 Oct. 2025
-
This Is My Story While Israel and Hamas have accepted the two-phase agreement, many of the more difficult issues have been left unresolved.—
Richard Hall,
Time,
12 Oct. 2025
Adjective
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The path burrows into a kaleidoscope display formed by willows, boxelders, velvet ash and the fiery scarlet of bigtooth maples.—
Roger Naylor,
AZCentral.com,
10 Oct. 2025
-
The explosion was the latest fiery mishap SpaceX's Starship has encountered during – and, now, before – its flight tests in 2025.—
Eric Lagatta,
USA Today,
10 Oct. 2025
Adjective
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Above the tree line, the landscape changes completely with alpine tundra, jagged peaks jutting out in the distance, and skies that seem impossibly close.—
Abby Price,
Travel + Leisure,
6 Oct. 2025
-
The video — which has since been taken down by the TikToker, who issued an apology — captured his final moments after Miller reached the summit and then had trouble getting his gear bag unstuck on a jagged edge below.—
Susan Young,
PEOPLE,
6 Oct. 2025
Adjective
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Options may include topical corticosteroids or nonsteroidal immunomodulators, which are often used on sensitive areas or for long-term control.—
Daryl Austin,
USA Today,
7 Oct. 2025
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Made without parabens, soaps or alcohols, the hypoallergenic wipes are great for all skin types, including sensitive skin.—
Christopher Murray
may earn a commission if you buy through our referral links. This content was created by a team that works independently from the Fox newsroom.,
FOXNews.com,
7 Oct. 2025
Adjective
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Thousands of shining reviews tout the area rug’s durability, color saturation, and feel underfoot—a high-quality weave that’s soft without being scratchy.—
Julia Harrison,
Architectural Digest,
6 Oct. 2025
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Hailing from South East London, the 24-year-old introduced herself voice first — scratchy but honeyed, and impossible to ignore.—
Thania Garcia,
Variety,
19 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Prickly.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/prickly. Accessed 14 Oct. 2025.
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