Prickly: meaning, definitions and examples

๐ŸŒต
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prickly

 

[ หˆprษชkli ]

Adjective / Adverb
Context #1 | Adjective

feeling or appearance

Having or covered with prickles or thorns; spiky.

Synonyms

barbed, prickled, spiky, thorny

Examples of usage

  • The cactus has prickly needles to protect itself from predators.
  • She winced as she touched the prickly surface of the plant.
Context #2 | Adverb

mood or behavior

In a manner characterized by irritation or annoyance.

Synonyms

irritably, snappishly, testily

Examples of usage

  • He responded prickly to any criticism of his work.
  • She reacted prickly to his teasing.

Translations

Translations of the word "prickly" in other languages:

๐Ÿ‡ต๐Ÿ‡น espinhoso

๐Ÿ‡ฎ๐Ÿ‡ณ เค•เคพเค‚เคŸเฅ‡เคฆเคพเคฐ

๐Ÿ‡ฉ๐Ÿ‡ช stachelig

๐Ÿ‡ฎ๐Ÿ‡ฉ berduri

๐Ÿ‡บ๐Ÿ‡ฆ ะบะพะปัŽั‡ะธะน

๐Ÿ‡ต๐Ÿ‡ฑ kolczasty

๐Ÿ‡ฏ๐Ÿ‡ต ใจใ’ใฎใ‚ใ‚‹ (toge no aru)

๐Ÿ‡ซ๐Ÿ‡ท รฉpineux

๐Ÿ‡ช๐Ÿ‡ธ espinoso

๐Ÿ‡น๐Ÿ‡ท dikenli

๐Ÿ‡ฐ๐Ÿ‡ท ๊ฐ€์‹œ๊ฐ€ ๋งŽ์€ (gashiga maneun)

๐Ÿ‡ธ๐Ÿ‡ฆ ุดุงุฆูƒ (sha'ik)

๐Ÿ‡จ๐Ÿ‡ฟ trnitรฝ

๐Ÿ‡ธ๐Ÿ‡ฐ tล•nistรฝ

๐Ÿ‡จ๐Ÿ‡ณ ๅคšๅˆบ็š„ (duล cรฌ de)

๐Ÿ‡ธ๐Ÿ‡ฎ trnovit

๐Ÿ‡ฎ๐Ÿ‡ธ รพyrnรณtt

๐Ÿ‡ฐ๐Ÿ‡ฟ ั‚ั–ะบะตะฝะตะบั‚ั–

๐Ÿ‡ฌ๐Ÿ‡ช แƒ›แƒญแƒ แƒ”แƒšแƒ˜ (mtchreli)

๐Ÿ‡ฆ๐Ÿ‡ฟ tikanlฤฑ

๐Ÿ‡ฒ๐Ÿ‡ฝ espinoso

Etymology

The word 'prickly' originated from the Middle English word 'prykkely' which meant full of sharp points. It is derived from the Old English word 'pricel', which means to prick or pierce. The use of 'prickly' to describe something spiky or irritable dates back to the 14th century.

See also: prick, prickling.

Word Frequency Rank

With rank #18,252, this word belongs to specialized vocabulary. While not common in everyday speech, it enriches your ability to express complex ideas.