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
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
So start scrolling to discover the products our touchiest of testers trust with their prickly complexions.
—Sophia Panych, Allure, 16 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for prickly
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.
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
So start scrolling to discover the products our touchiest of testers trust with their prickly complexions.
—Sophia Panych, Allure, 16 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for prickly
Cite this Entry
“Prickly.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/prickly. Accessed 26 Sep. 2025.
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
Love words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share