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
Examples Sentences
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Recent Examples of prickly
There’s appealing sweetness to his scenes with Ellis, and great comic energy to his scenes with the excellently prickly Estrada, a complete revelation in what is easily her highest profile role to date.
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Daniel Fienberg, The Hollywood Reporter, 21 Nov. 2024
Cha-il’s prickly attitude doesn’t soften much despite the good example set by the naïve rookie auditor Han-soo (Lee Jung-ha).
—Simon Abrams, New York Times, 27 Dec. 2024
Paul is Roy, the prickly guy whose sarcastic exterior hides a soppy desire to be loved.
—Roxana Hadadi, Vulture, 24 Dec. 2024
Technically, capers are the flower buds of the Capparis spinosa plant, a prickly shrub commonly found bordering the Mediterranean, in places like Morocco and Greece.
—Kendra Vaculin, Bon Appétit, 16 Dec. 2024
See all Example Sentences for prickly 
Daniel Fienberg, The Hollywood Reporter, 21 Nov. 2024
Cha-il’s prickly attitude doesn’t soften much despite the good example set by the naïve rookie auditor Han-soo (Lee Jung-ha).
—Simon Abrams, New York Times, 27 Dec. 2024
Paul is Roy, the prickly guy whose sarcastic exterior hides a soppy desire to be loved.
—Roxana Hadadi, Vulture, 24 Dec. 2024
Technically, capers are the flower buds of the Capparis spinosa plant, a prickly shrub commonly found bordering the Mediterranean, in places like Morocco and Greece.
—Kendra Vaculin, Bon Appétit, 16 Dec. 2024
See all Example Sentences for prickly
Recent Examples of Synonyms for prickly
Adjective
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First, some people might find the constant drumbeat of being questioned by AI is exhausting and irritating.Lance Eliot, Forbes, 4 Jan. 2025
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Knotted chains are not only irritating, but can also damage jewelry.Amelia Mularz, Architectural Digest, 2 Jan. 2025
Adjective
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Coupled with erratic blood sugar levels – often caused by diets high in refined sugars and low in nutrients – these energy dips and spikes can leave you feeling irritable and drained.Lina Begdache, The Conversation, 7 Jan. 2025
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This can contribute to symptoms such as fatigue, muscle aches, and irritable mood.Rosanna Sutherby, PharmD, Verywell Health, 3 Jan. 2025
Adjective
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This means tackling the thorny issues of four-year college costs and the overall value of college degrees with greater urgency.Jamie Merisotis, Forbes, 15 Jan. 2025
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Access to television broadcasts has been a thorny issue for many fans of the Charlotte Hornets.Roderick Boone, Charlotte Observer, 14 Jan. 2025
Adjective
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Simplifying Complexity Through Narratives Leaders often need to communicate complex strategies or concepts, which can be difficult for teams to fully grasp.Paola Cecchi-Dimeglio, Forbes, 18 Jan. 2025
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The emotional weight of losing that independence is difficult to quantify, but its impact is profound.John Hope Bryant, TIME, 18 Jan. 2025
Adjective
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Red Hot Most Popular Fashion A Short History of the Front Row Magazine Inside Vogue’s December Issue Celebrities Jennie Reveals How Cold-Plunging Loosens Up Her Muscles and Opens Up Her Mind For a fiery spin on the glazed nail trend, opt for a red metallic shade.Audrey Noble, Vogue, 10 Jan. 2025
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The original image of the women in the Facebook post, which didn't include the fiery background, was posted on the Los Angeles Fire Department’s Flickr account in February 2016.Chris Mueller, USA TODAY, 10 Jan. 2025
Adjective
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Much like the iconic caveman from Hanna-Barbera's The Flintstones, Hollins went barefoot and sported a blue necktie and a short-sleeve, leopard-print loincloth with a jagged hemline.Gil Macias, People.com, 12 Jan. 2025
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Comments For over a century, the rugged beauty of the Dolomites — with its jagged peaks rising above lush meadows and hills — has attracted wellness travelers the world over.Dobrina Zhekova, Travel + Leisure, 8 Jan. 2025
Adjective
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During the 2024 presidential campaign, as Musk embraced the Republican Party and then Trump, his pro-China views brought him into conflict with parts of the MAGA coalition, including on the sensitive topic of immigration.John Hyatt, Forbes, 18 Jan. 2025
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Authoritarian regimes should not have unfettered access to millions of Americans’ sensitive data.Todd Spangler, Variety, 18 Jan. 2025
Adjective
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Beyond obvious symptoms such as a scratchy throat and runny nose, Hur urges people to watch for changes in their sense of smell or whether their normally thin, clear mucus becomes thicker.Jackie Snow, Los Angeles Times, 11 Jan. 2025
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Symptoms can range from the mild, such as burning or itchy eyes, runny nose, scratchy throat, and headache, to severe respiratory issues, including difficulty breathing, wheezing, coughing, fatigue, and chest pain.Emily Mullin, WIRED, 10 Jan. 2025
Thesaurus Entries Near prickly
Cite this Entry
“Prickly.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/prickly. Accessed 21 Jan. 2025.
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