Definition

1. Adjective:
   • Covered with or having sharp points: Describes something that has many small, sharp, stiff points like thorns, spines, or bristles that can prick or scratch.
   • Causing a tingling or stinging sensation: Describes a physical feeling on the skin that is sharp, slightly painful, or irritating, similar to being touched by many tiny points.
   • Easily irritated or annoyed; touchy: Describes a person who is quick to take offense or become angry, often in a defensive or irritable manner.

Examples of Usage

• Adjective (Physical Object):
  • Be careful of the prickly cactus. (The cactus has sharp spines.)
  • She wore a sweater that felt prickly against her skin. (The sweater caused a tingling, irritating sensation.)
• Adjective (Person/Temperament):
  • He's been very prickly about questions regarding his past. (He becomes easily annoyed or defensive.)
  • The negotiations hit a prickly issue. (The issue is sensitive and likely to cause irritation.)

Advanced Usage

• "Prickly heat": A common term for miliaria, a skin rash caused by blocked sweat ducts, resulting in a stinging or prickly sensation.
  • The humid weather gave the baby a case of prickly heat.
• "Prickly pear": A type of cactus (genus ) that has flat, pad-like stems covered with spines and bears edible fruit.
  • Prickly pears are common in desert landscapes.

Variants and Related Words

• Prickle (noun/verb): A small, sharp point or spine; to cause or feel a tingling or stinging sensation.
  • I felt a prickle on my arm. (Noun)
  • The criticism made my skin prickle. (Verb)
• Prickliness (noun): The quality or state of being prickly.
  • The prickliness of the holly leaves. (Physical quality)
  • Her prickliness made the conversation difficult. (Irritable temperament)

Synonyms

• Spiny, thorny, bristly: For being covered with sharp points.
• Irritable, testy, touchy, waspish: For being easily annoyed.
• Tingling, stinging: For causing a sharp, slight pain.

Related Phrases

• A prickly subject/question: A topic that is sensitive, difficult, or likely to cause annoyance or argument.
  • Tax reform is a prickly subject for many politicians.
• To have a prickly relationship: To have a relationship characterized by frequent irritation or conflict.
  • The two departments have a prickly relationship.

Related Idioms

• To be on prickly ground: To be in a sensitive, risky, or uncomfortable situation where one must be careful.
  • Asking about his finances is treading on prickly ground.

Adjective

1. having or covered with protective barbs or quills or spines or thorns or setae etc.
   • a horse with a short bristly mane
   • bristly shrubs
   • burred fruits
   • setaceous whiskers
2. very irritable
   • bristly exchanges between the White House and the press
   • he became prickly and spiteful
   • witty and waspish about his colleagues