prickly

English

Etymology

prickle +‎ -y

Adjective

prickly (comparative pricklier, superlative prickliest)

  1. Covered with sharp points.
    Prickly pear is a cactus, you have to peel it before eating it to remove the spines and the tough skin.
  2. Easily irritated.
    He has a prickly personality. He doesn't get along with people because he is easily set off.
  3. difficult, hairy, complicated

Synonyms

Derived terms

Translations

See also

Adverb

prickly (comparative more prickly, superlative most prickly)

  1. In a prickly manner
    • 2016, David Thomson, Biggest lesson of the 2016 Oscars? The Academy should be scrapped (in The Guardian, 3 March 2016)
      Striding across stage in his bright white jacket, his voice soaring and cracking – like Charlie Parker’s – he was nervous but prickly eloquent, caustic yet encouraging.
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