prickly
adjective
prick·ly
ˈpri-k(ə-)lē 
pricklier; prickliest
1
: full of or covered with prickles
especially
: distinguished from related kinds by the presence of prickles
3
a
: troublesome, vexatious
prickly issues
b
: easily irritated
had a prickly disposition
prickliness
noun
Examples of prickly in a Sentence
The plant's leaves are prickly.
she tried to ignore the feel of the prickly grass against her skin
Recent Examples on the Web
The document that largely defined American foreign policy through the Cold War years was written anonymously by a prickly and melancholic Midwesterner who spent much of the rest of his life disavowing the repercussions of his work.
—
Richard Babcock, Chicago Tribune, 12 May 2024
His striking sound — powered by moody lyrics and prickly guitars and brass instruments — has catapulted Junior H to the top of the Billboard charts since breaking out in 2020.
—Griselda Flores, Billboard, 7 May 2024
See all Example Sentences for prickly 
Richard Babcock, Chicago Tribune, 12 May 2024
His striking sound — powered by moody lyrics and prickly guitars and brass instruments — has catapulted Junior H to the top of the Billboard charts since breaking out in 2020.
—Griselda Flores, Billboard, 7 May 2024
See all Example Sentences for prickly
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'prickly.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
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Cite this Entry
“Prickly.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/prickly. Accessed 29 May. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
prickly
adjective
prick·ly
ˈprik-lē
-ə-lē
pricklier; prickliest
1
: full of or covered with prickles
prickly plants
2
: marked by slight stinging or tingling
a prickly sensation
prickliness
noun
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