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 normally prickly and unsympathetic Harriet Oleson (Katherine MacGregor) switches gears into hero mode, rounding up the town's men to scour the countryside for the children who've become trapped.
—
Ryan Coleman,
Entertainment Weekly,
3 July 2026
At school, there are prickly Principal Anderson (Matt Oberg) and Donna (Amy Pietz, nice to see her), his good-hearted secretary, a champion of needy teens and, it will be revealed, Liz’s mother.
—
Television Critic,
Los Angeles Times,
1 July 2026
Set the scene Desert-meets-tropical-island, where succulents flourish like daisies in spring, and prickly cacti forests line the local roads into the capital of Willemstad.
—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
26 June 2026
There’s also the possibility of overindulging fan excitement for beloved characters, a world where Patricia turns into a less prickly, more easily lovable character, trading her off-kilter pointiness for something smoother and more flattering.
—
Kathryn Vanarendonk,
Vulture,
17 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for prickly
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Ryan Coleman,
Entertainment Weekly,
3 July 2026
At school, there are prickly Principal Anderson (Matt Oberg) and Donna (Amy Pietz, nice to see her), his good-hearted secretary, a champion of needy teens and, it will be revealed, Liz’s mother.
—
Television Critic,
Los Angeles Times,
1 July 2026
Set the scene Desert-meets-tropical-island, where succulents flourish like daisies in spring, and prickly cacti forests line the local roads into the capital of Willemstad.
—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
26 June 2026
There’s also the possibility of overindulging fan excitement for beloved characters, a world where Patricia turns into a less prickly, more easily lovable character, trading her off-kilter pointiness for something smoother and more flattering.
—
Kathryn Vanarendonk,
Vulture,
17 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for prickly
Cite this Entry
“Prickly.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/prickly. Accessed 5 Jul. 2026.
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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