thistly

as in prickly
having leaves or branches which are likely to cause a scratch caught her sleeve on a thistly bush

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Example Sentences

Recent Examples of Synonyms for thistly
Adjective
  • And my body is stinging as prickly flares of embarrassment radiate from my ribs.
    A'Lelia Bundles June 11, Literary Hub, 11 June 2025
  • The role of the unions in all this is prickly, powerful and not always benign.
    Elizabeth Glazer, New York Daily News, 18 May 2025
Adjective
  • When Squid Game first flung us into its arena of despair, questioning the status quo was the series’ fuel, and its narrative rhythm had the jagged urgency of that initial run of Red Light, Green Light.
    Roxana Hadadi, Vulture, 27 June 2025
  • Another photo features a marshal with a long-range precision rifle mounted on a bipod, stationed on jagged ground with dramatic peaks in the backdrop.
    Julia Bonavita, FOXNews.com, 24 June 2025
Adjective
  • Some have risked their lives and their livelihoods to cover thorny issues affecting their home countries.
    David Folkenflik, NPR, 21 June 2025
  • Expected to go on sale in North America this fall, pricing will be a thorny issue in the era of on-again, off-again, on-again tariffs.
    Peter Lyon, Forbes.com, 18 June 2025
Adjective
  • Say goodbye to the scratchy feel and five o’clock shadow.
    Nia Bowers, USA Today, 23 June 2025
  • This one attaches easily to your carry-on and spares you from those scratchy airline blankets.
    Rosie Marder, Travel + Leisure, 30 May 2025
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

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Cite this Entry

“Thistly.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/thistly. Accessed 4 Jul. 2025.

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