variants
also spikey
as in barbed
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Recent Examples of spiky
Common snappers range from Nova Scotia to the Gulf of Mexico, while their spikier cousins are mostly found in the southern states west to Texas.
—
Paul Richards, Field & Stream, 1 Nov. 2023
Her hair was mostly swept up into a bun, emphasizing the straight line of her slightly spiky new bangs.
—Aimée Lutkin, ELLE, 27 Aug. 2023
And the finale, two lobsters — brown and spikier than their US relativesbut much sweeter, more like crab — split in half and over what must be a pound of spaghetti.
—Helene Stapinski, BostonGlobe.com, 16 Mar. 2023
These ads document the EV arms race playing out right now as companies beef up their electric offerings with higher profiles, spikier bodies, and more imposing grilles.
—Curbed, 8 Feb. 2023
See All Example Sentences for spiky
Paul Richards, Field & Stream, 1 Nov. 2023
Her hair was mostly swept up into a bun, emphasizing the straight line of her slightly spiky new bangs.
—Aimée Lutkin, ELLE, 27 Aug. 2023
And the finale, two lobsters — brown and spikier than their US relativesbut much sweeter, more like crab — split in half and over what must be a pound of spaghetti.
—Helene Stapinski, BostonGlobe.com, 16 Mar. 2023
These ads document the EV arms race playing out right now as companies beef up their electric offerings with higher profiles, spikier bodies, and more imposing grilles.
—Curbed, 8 Feb. 2023
See All Example Sentences for spiky
Recent Examples of Synonyms for spiky
Adjective
-
Half of my drawing was in black and white, showing a woman walking away from barbed wire and a prison tower.—
Chicago Tribune,
Chicago Tribune,
7 Jan. 2026
-
Who knew barbed wire could be so interesting?—
Pam LeBlanc,
Southern Living,
3 Jan. 2026
Adjective
-
The higher threshold for defamation against public figures is meant to preserve debate and safeguard caustic and even bitter or abusive speech against powerful and influential people.—
Taylor Seely,
AZCentral.com,
12 Jan. 2026
-
Some feel that the movie’s slide into sentiment in its final scenes, with a young German barmaid singing a folk song to an inn full of battle-scarred soldiers, doesn’t quite match the caustic nature of the rest of the story.—
Bilge Ebiri,
Vulture,
31 Dec. 2025
Adjective
-
However, a touch of sardonic levity has always been part of Panahi’s storytelling.—
Carlos Aguilar,
Los Angeles Times,
6 Jan. 2026
-
And her unfailing ability to give the perfect little sardonic wink and nod extends beyond her social media content and even beyond her impeccable performances in projects like Netflix's Too Much.—
Meg Walters,
InStyle,
4 Jan. 2026
Adjective
-
The addition of buttermilk boosts the flavor of this coleslaw with a slight sour bite.—
Amanda Favazza,
Southern Living,
15 Jan. 2026
-
It's seasoned with sumac, which has a distinctly sour, earthy flavor.—
Ginger Crichton,
Midwest Living,
12 Jan. 2026
Adjective
-
Kokuho follows an ambitious young Kabuki actor, Kikuo (played by Ryo Yoshizawa), who after being orphaned following the murder of his Yakuza clan father, is taken under the wing by an esteemed yet acerbic Kabuki master, Hanjiro Hanai (played by Ken Watanabe).—
Anthony D'Alessandro,
Deadline,
12 Jan. 2026
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In her first major big-screen role since May December, an icy-blonde Natalie Portman is Polina Polinski, an ambitious gallerist gearing up for her Art Basel premiere, in this acerbic art world satire from Cathy Yan (Dead Pigs).—
Radhika Seth,
Vogue,
6 Jan. 2026
Adjective
-
Delicious and pungent, there's no denying that the world of cheese can be a confusing (and rewarding) place.—
Kimberly Holland,
Southern Living,
8 Jan. 2026
-
Residents sick of the pungent smell and wary of the crop’s potential associations with the marijuana industry — of which growing, processing and sales are banned in Sutter County and Yuba City — called for an end to hemp farming.—
Jake Goodrick,
Sacbee.com,
17 Dec. 2025
Adjective
-
Past statements or e-mails can be taken out of context, with dangerous results, so carefully phrase your statements in board meetings or in e-mails, — and avoid intemperate or sarcastic remarks.—
Kelly G. Richardson,
Oc Register,
9 Jan. 2026
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It was greeted by the sound of loud, sarcastic cheering by the old London Road end and by Malcolm Shotton, Oxford’s moustachioed coach, who could have used the Pringles logo as a passport photo, throwing his jacket into the crowd in sarcastic celebration.—
The Athletic UK Staff,
New York Times,
3 Jan. 2026
Adjective
-
How to Clean Baking Sheets With Vinegar Vinegar is an acidic ingredient that can cut through grease and lift stains.—
Madeline Buiano,
Martha Stewart,
11 Jan. 2026
-
The acidic properties of this inexpensive, nontoxic, and eco-friendly household cleaner help to break down grease, loosen dried-on food, and neutralize funky odors.—
Gemma Johnstone,
The Spruce,
10 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Spiky.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/spiky. Accessed 21 Jan. 2026.
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