1
as in puncture
a mark or small hole made by a pointed instrument
the immunization shot left a prick on my arm that turned into a bruise
Synonyms & Similar Words
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2
as in tingle
a sharp unpleasant sensation usually felt in some specific part of the body
she felt a sharp prick when the nurse gave her the shot
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of prick
Abhimanyu Ghoshal, New Atlas, 4 Dec. 2025
She was connected to an IV with insulin, her fingers repeatedly pricked to test blood glucose.
—Jan Goldsmith, San Diego Union-Tribune, 23 Oct. 2025
The curious cats will keep their eyes wide open and ears pricked forward.
—Liz O'Connell, MSNBC Newsweek, 2 Oct. 2025
Citing the French Interior Ministry, Le Monde reported that 145 people across France reported being pricked.
—Liam Quinn, People.com, 23 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for prick
Verb
Beyond the myriad complications that come with diabetes, patients have to additionally put up with regular blood sugar testing – which involves either multiple pin pricks a day to draw blood or wearing a continuous glucose monitor patch that needs to be replaced every couple of weeks.
—Abhimanyu Ghoshal, New Atlas, 4 Dec. 2025
She was connected to an IV with insulin, her fingers repeatedly pricked to test blood glucose.
—Jan Goldsmith, San Diego Union-Tribune, 23 Oct. 2025
The curious cats will keep their eyes wide open and ears pricked forward.
—Liz O'Connell, MSNBC Newsweek, 2 Oct. 2025
Citing the French Interior Ministry, Le Monde reported that 145 people across France reported being pricked.
—Liam Quinn, People.com, 23 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for prick
Recent Examples of Synonyms for prick
Noun
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Attenborough communicated with the tribe using gestures, looked at their personal ornaments and enquired about the pegs in the ritual punctures in the nose of one of the men.—
Amarachi Orie,
CNN Money,
8 May 2026
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In the case of a puncture, the rider will be warned immediately, which prevents further damage to the wheel and improves safety.—
Maryna Holovnova,
New Atlas,
8 May 2026
Noun
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That process helps encourage gentle cell turnover without irritation, while both pomegranate and pear ferments bring a soft, enzyme-like exfoliation to the mix, giving you that smoother, glowier look—just without the tingle.—
Christa Joanna Lee,
Allure,
22 Apr. 2026
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O’Neal wrote about delinquents – characters whose exploits, their power, induced a creeping tingle on the back of your neck.—
Courtney Crowder,
USA Today,
10 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Justin Rose was outside the cut line on Friday until holing a chip from deep rough for eagle on his last hole to make it with one shot to spare.—
Doug Ferguson,
Chicago Tribune,
17 May 2026
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Space the planting holes 18 to 24 inches apart and space rows 3 to 6 feet apart.—
Lauren Landers,
Better Homes & Gardens,
4 May 2026
Noun
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Among the symptoms people reported were gastrointestinal illness, fever, general malaise, pneumonia, fatigue, aches and respiratory symptoms.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
14 May 2026
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The man sought medical care twice — first with a fever, muscle aches, chills, headache and fatigue, then with vomiting and diarrhea.—
Aria Bendix,
NBC news,
12 May 2026
Verb
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However, with their perpetual pose of undeserved victimhood, Zionists were boring first.—
Voice of the People,
New York Daily News,
15 May 2026
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Carpenter ants and wood-boring beetles are also common, especially in older homes and damp crawl spaces.—
Ryan Brennan
May 15,
Charlotte Observer,
15 May 2026
Noun
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Down to the volatile sound design and pangs of romantic yearning, to say nothing of the first-person cinematography lensed by Dhont regular Frank van den Eeden, this movie follows Pierre’s every move from the inside out.—
David Canfield,
HollywoodReporter,
12 May 2026
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Help keep your hunger pangs at bay while on a road trip or at the office with this multi-pack of trail mixes.—
Michele Laufik,
Martha Stewart,
11 May 2026
Verb
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As Luke walks off, his shirt undone and his furry belly prickling in the desert cold, Danny turns and stares out into the backyard.—
Brian Moylan,
Vulture,
16 Apr. 2026
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Retatrutide has shown similar side effects, as well as a prickling sensation known as dysesthesia.—
Meg Tirrell,
CNN Money,
19 Mar. 2026
Noun
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Symptoms can include fever, vomiting, diarrhea, muscle pain and internal bleeding.—
Jasmine Baehr,
FOXNews.com,
16 May 2026
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Guilfoyle said helpful approaches include increasing enrichment and sniff-based activities on walks, providing more structured chewing opportunities, treating underlying nausea, reflux, pain or anxiety if present, and redirecting with food or toys before the dog starts grazing heavily.—
Diana Bocco,
USA Today,
15 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Prick.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/prick. Accessed 20 May. 2026.
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