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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The more irritating the characters get, the more compelling the movie becomes.—
Justin Chang,
New Yorker,
3 Oct. 2025
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This silky, fragrance-free formula delivers all the benefits of retinol—like smoothing fine lines, refining texture, and evening skin tone—without a heavy or irritating feel.—
Christa Joanna Lee,
Allure,
1 Oct. 2025
Adjective
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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
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For once, the bulk of the anger was directed not at Fosun — the investment group and majority shareholder – and the Molineux hierarchy who have conspired to deal Pereira a difficult hand, but at the head coach himself and his players.—
Steve Madeley,
New York Times,
6 Oct. 2025
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Romancelandia’s social world, harnessed by its business-minded authors, may make its success exceedingly difficult to replicate.—
Rebecca Ackermann,
The Atlantic,
5 Oct. 2025
Adjective
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Fans have pointed to the former Big Machine label boss, who oversaw Swift’s early career and later clashed with her over ownership of her masters, as the likely target of this fiery track.—
Alice Gibbs,
MSNBC Newsweek,
3 Oct. 2025
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Investigators have since concluded that the item initially thought to be an explosive was debris from a fiery vehicle crash.—
Noe Padilla,
IndyStar,
3 Oct. 2025
Adjective
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Along the way, Juano offered bits of mountaineering history and recounted legendary first ascents of the jagged peaks surrounding us.—
Scott Yorko,
Travel + Leisure,
4 Oct. 2025
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Karst formations, a porous rock, stick out as jagged protrusions in between lush forest and provide plenty of places for small creatures to hide.—
Irene Wright,
Miami Herald,
2 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 9 Oct. 2025.
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