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
Properly constructed, a Martinez is plush with Italian vermouth but still prickly with gin, enjoying the diamond-clarity of a Martini but with the silken luxuriousness of a Manhattan.
—
Jeremy Repanich, Robb Report, 27 Sep. 2025
Beleaguered American chipmaker Intel is finding itself in slightly less prickly situations lately.
—Yeo Boon Ping, CNBC, 25 Sep. 2025
Milk thistle is a prickly plant characterized by purple flowers and distinct white veins.
—Nick Blackmer, Verywell Health, 23 Sep. 2025
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
See All Example Sentences for prickly
Jeremy Repanich, Robb Report, 27 Sep. 2025
Beleaguered American chipmaker Intel is finding itself in slightly less prickly situations lately.
—Yeo Boon Ping, CNBC, 25 Sep. 2025
Milk thistle is a prickly plant characterized by purple flowers and distinct white veins.
—Nick Blackmer, Verywell Health, 23 Sep. 2025
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
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
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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
-
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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Perhaps one of the thorniest issues to fully ending the conflict remains the establishment of a Palestinian state.—
Mostafa Salem,
CNN Money,
14 Oct. 2025
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But with those steps completed, several thorny issues loom.—
Jared Gans,
The Hill,
14 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
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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
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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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Avoid posting sensitive information like travel plans, birthdays or financial updates on social media.—
Kurt Knutsson,
FOXNews.com,
14 Oct. 2025
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The Creature, who remains nameless throughout the novel, develops into a sensitive and inquisitive soul, yet one shunned by the world for his appearance.—
Big Think,
Big Think,
14 Oct. 2025
Adjective
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Overheating, scratchy metal utensils, overzealous scrubbing, and some cooking sprays can damage the surface and shorten the pan's lifespan.—
Brandee Gruener,
Southern Living,
14 Oct. 2025
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Order a drink and enjoy some popcorn and the jukebox spinning scratchy 45s of standards from the likes of Frank Sinatra and Dean Martin.—
Peter Cameron,
New York Times,
8 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Prickly.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/prickly. Accessed 16 Oct. 2025.
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