adj
prickly
Prickly (adj) means Covered with small sharp points or thorns. Example: “The prickly cactus was impossible to move without gloves.”
adj
1
Covered with small sharp points or thorns.
"The prickly pear is a cactus; you have to peel it before eating it to remove the spines and the tough skin."
"The prickly cactus was impossible to move without gloves."
2
Easily irritated or quick to take offence; touchy.
"He's a bit prickly about criticism of his work."
"He has a prickly personality. He doesn't get along with people because he is easily set off."
How to use prickly
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishEither literally covered in sharp points, or figuratively easily annoyed.
Common pairings
a prickly subject
prickly personality
prickly plant
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Word forms
- Plural
- pricklies
- Comparative
- pricklier, more prickly
- Superlative
- prickliest, most prickly
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
The _____ cactus was impossible to move without gloves.
Etymology
From prickle + -y.
Synonyms
View more →Antonyms
Related words
Rhymes for prickly
See all rhymes for prickly →Frequently asked questions
What does “prickly” mean?
The word “prickly” means covered with small sharp points or thorns. In plain terms, either literally covered in sharp points, or figuratively easily annoyed.
How do you use “prickly” in a sentence?
Here is “prickly” used in a sentence: “The prickly cactus was impossible to move without gloves.”
What part of speech is “prickly”?
“Prickly” is an adjective.
How many meanings does “prickly” have?
“Prickly” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: covered with small sharp points or thorns.
