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
The landscape views are breathtaking since the terrain is so hilly and rocky (as opposed to the flat terrain of the savannah) and covered in Lebombo euphorbia, a cactus-like tree with a single trunk and an entire canopy of prickly, upright branches.
—
Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 3 June 2026
Plant it near tomatoes, squash and strawberries—its prickly leaves deter insect pests.
—Barbara Gillette, The Spruce, 26 May 2026
Early in his career, Busch could be a prickly character on the track and with the media.
—Jim Clash, Forbes.com, 25 May 2026
There were bladderpods just starting to put out yellow flowers, prickly Shaw agaves beside bright yellow-orange poppies, Western redbuds with round leaves, wild marigolds, clumps of Mexican rush and Howard McMinn manzanita, as well as sunset manzanita and dozens more.
—Caron Golden, San Diego Union-Tribune, 23 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for prickly
Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 3 June 2026
Plant it near tomatoes, squash and strawberries—its prickly leaves deter insect pests.
—Barbara Gillette, The Spruce, 26 May 2026
Early in his career, Busch could be a prickly character on the track and with the media.
—Jim Clash, Forbes.com, 25 May 2026
There were bladderpods just starting to put out yellow flowers, prickly Shaw agaves beside bright yellow-orange poppies, Western redbuds with round leaves, wild marigolds, clumps of Mexican rush and Howard McMinn manzanita, as well as sunset manzanita and dozens more.
—Caron Golden, San Diego Union-Tribune, 23 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for prickly
Recent Examples of Synonyms for prickly
Adjective
-
The post carried neither hereditary title nor extraordinary fortune, and yet it was regarded with a degree of respect that many noble families found faintly irritating.—
Adam Kirsch,
The Atlantic,
15 June 2026
-
And compared with stronger anti-aging ingredients like retinoids or chemical exfoliants, copper peptides are generally considered less irritating and are often well-tolerated by sensitive skin.—
Daryl Austin,
USA Today,
13 June 2026
Adjective
-
Cancer could be affectionate and chatty one moment, and withdrawn and irritable the next, with little to no explanation.—
Valerie Mesa,
PEOPLE,
23 June 2026
-
They can be withdrawn or irritable.—
Jessica Guynn,
USA Today,
14 June 2026
Adjective
-
The negotiations are meant to resolve some of the thorniest issues in the deal that are yet to be agreed upon, including Iran’s nuclear program.—
Mithil Aggarwal,
NBC news,
20 June 2026
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This next round of technical talks, intended to tackle the thorny issue of Iran’s nuclear program, will be much more complicated.—
Nic Robertson,
CNN Money,
19 June 2026
Adjective
-
Some organizers say America's complicated and at times difficult history is being glossed over by fireworks and flag-waving ‒ or that it's being politicized by an administration that has actively worked to advance its version of history.—
Phaedra Trethan,
USA Today,
22 June 2026
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The move gives Marte another chance to work his way back to the major leagues after a difficult stretch that included a brief stop with the Cincinnati Reds organization earlier this year before a cut.—
Peter Chawaga,
Forbes.com,
21 June 2026
Adjective
-
The ingredients were fresh and the balance of tangy citrus notes and fiery spices made for an unforgettable meal.—
Deeya Sonalkar,
TheWeek,
18 June 2026
-
Mamdani spoke for roughly eight minutes in a fiery speech about the history of the team, the grind to the championship, the heartbreaking seasons and the perseverance necessary to finally bring a title to New York after 53 years.—
Ryan Morik OutKick,
FOXNews.com,
18 June 2026
Adjective
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Irregular, edges catch oil differently, crisping into jagged, craggly bits while softer interior pockets hold onto dressing, broth, or sauce—the kind of varied texture that makes each bite its own.—
Anne Wolf,
Martha Stewart,
18 June 2026
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As pests crawl through it, its jagged edges scrape their exoskeletons, dehydrating and killing them.—
Karen Brewer Grossman,
Southern Living,
18 June 2026
Adjective
-
According to the text of the current agreement, the most sensitive nuclear issues are not yet agreed to on paper.—
Quinn Scanlan,
ABC News,
21 June 2026
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Just last month, an attack on Canvas, a software used in schools and colleges, put thousands of students at risk by exposing sensitive information.—
Taylor Croft,
AJC.com,
21 June 2026
Adjective
-
Investing in a decadent body butter is like upgrading your flimsy blanket to a plush throw or changing scratchy sheets for a luxurious cotton set—the small change makes a huge difference in your life.—
Irene Richardson,
InStyle,
16 June 2026
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The often scratchy, historically fascinating recordings are given an audio backdrop of a keyboard/percussion score performed by Shortell.—
Christopher Arnott,
Hartford Courant,
15 June 2026
Cite this Entry
“Prickly.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/prickly. Accessed 25 Jun. 2026.
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