English dictionary, thesaurus, translations & etymology

adjective

spiky

SPEYE-kee

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Spiky (adjective) means Covered with sharp points; having spikes. Example: “The cactus had a mass of spiky needles.”

adjective

1

Covered with sharp points; having spikes.

"The cactus had a mass of spiky needles."

"He styled his hair into a spiky mohawk."

2

Of a person, prickly or difficult to get along with.

"She can be a bit spiky in meetings if she disagrees with the plan."

How to use spiky

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishFull of sharp points, or (of a person) touchy and abrasive.

Common pairings

spiky hair a spiky personality spiky leaves

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C2 · Advanced serendipity Fortunate discoveries made entirely by accident.

Gen Z slang rizz Charm — the ability to attract a romantic interest.

B2 · Intermediate empathy The capacity to share another person’s feelings.

C1 · Advanced nonchalant Casually calm and relaxed; unconcerned.

Internet slang delulu Delusional — believing something against the odds.

Etymology nostalgia Greek nostos “return home” + algos “pain”.

C2 · Advanced serendipity Fortunate discoveries made entirely by accident.

Gen Z slang rizz Charm — the ability to attract a romantic interest.

B2 · Intermediate empathy The capacity to share another person’s feelings.

C1 · Advanced nonchalant Casually calm and relaxed; unconcerned.

Internet slang delulu Delusional — believing something against the odds.

Etymology nostalgia Greek nostos “return home” + algos “pain”.

Word forms

Comparative: spikier, more spiky
Superlative: spikiest, most spiky

Test yourself on “spiky” A quick quiz — meaning, synonyms & usage →

Fill the gap

Can you complete this real example?

The cactus had a mass of _____ needles.

Etymology

Formed from spike ("kind of inflorescence in which sessile flowers are arranged on an unbranched elongated axis") and the suffix -y (forming adjectives with the sense "having the quality of"). Spike itself comes from Middle English spik, spike ("ear of grain; clove of garlic; plant having spikes; plant of the genus Valeriana, especially Valeriana officinalis; plant of the genus Lavandula, lavender"), from Latin spīca ("ear, head, or spike of grain; plant spike") (feminine, also rarely spīcum neuter and spīcus masculine), possibly ultimately from Proto-Indo-European *spey- ("long; sharp; thin").

Origin: Middle English

Synonyms

peaky prickly thorny

Related words

defensive tricky problematic barbed peaky prickly thorny under the weather

Frequently asked questions

What does “spiky” mean?

The word “spiky” means covered with sharp points; having spikes. In plain terms, full of sharp points, or (of a person) touchy and abrasive.

How do you pronounce “spiky”?

“Spiky” is pronounced SPEYE-kee (/ˈspaɪki/ in IPA).

How do you use “spiky” in a sentence?

Here is “spiky” used in a sentence: “The cactus had a mass of spiky needles.”

What part of speech is “spiky”?

“Spiky” is an adjective.

How many meanings does “spiky” have?

“Spiky” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: covered with sharp points; having spikes.

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defensive tricky problematic barbed peaky prickly thorny under the weather