prickly
adjective
full of or armed with prickles.
prickliness
-
a word derived from
prickly.
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
By contrast, Ms. Lloyd brings a weighty, wary gravitas to Celeste, the group’s only black member, who often radiates a mild prickliness.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Feb. 21, 2025
Blessedly, Season 3 makes room for glimpses into the locals’ lives beyond the hotel, augmenting the personal stakes for workers beyond the usual administrative staff whose prickliness co-stars in previous seasons.
From Salon ● Feb. 16, 2025
The bank’s leaders continued to show some prickliness, declining for instance to say when they began to consider Mr. DiNello’s promotion.
From New York Times ● Feb. 8, 2024
I would do the same, and together we’d sit on the floor and I would run my hand over both heads, marvel at the prickliness of us both.
From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 8, 2023
And then, despite his initial prickliness, the young man warmed to the old-timer, and the two engaged in a long conversation.
From "Into the Wild" by Jon Krakauer
