spiky

[ spahy-kee ]

/ ˈspaɪ ki /

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See synonyms for: spiky / spikier / spikiest on Thesaurus.com

adjective, spik·i·er, spik·i·est.

having a spike or spikes.

having the form of a spike; spikelike.

acid or peevish in temper or mood; prickly.

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Origin of spiky

First recorded in 1570–80; spike¹ + -y¹

OTHER WORDS FROM spiky

spik·i·ly, adverbspik·i·ness, noun

Words nearby spiky

spike moss, spikenard, spiker, spike-rush, spike-tooth harrow, spiky, spile, spiling, spill, spillage, Spillane

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use spiky in a sentence

The furry limb, spiky-leaf trees are native to the area, and it is currently illegal to remove them since they are a candidate for protection under the California Endangered Species Act.
A couple bulldozed 36 Joshua trees to build a home. Now they face an $18,000 fine.|Julian Mark|July 1, 2021|Washington Post
The block that followed was much larger, the size of a small brick, its surfaces angled together into a sharp point, like a microcosm of the spiky mountains all around us.
The Crystal Hunters of Chamonix|Simon Akam|June 8, 2021|Outside Online
She wore a blue T-shirt with the words “Don’t Try Me,” matching her spiky blue bob.
The Child Care Industry Was Collapsing. Mrs. Jackie Bet Everything on an Impossible Dream to Save It.|by Lizzie Presser|May 1, 2021|ProPublica
He sampled the spiky “Ether” for the boom-bap of Run the Jewels’ “The Ground Below,” his way of sharing the music with a new generation of listeners.
Gang of Four changed the way punk sounded and what it could say. A new box set reveals the peak of their power.|Andy Beta|March 12, 2021|Washington Post

Developed by Sayeed Khan, who was a grandson of indentured laborers, the brand’s spice mix is a household staple, adored for its nuanced and spiky flavor.
Trinidad-style aloo and channa infuses an Indian classic with Caribbean flavor|Brigid Washington|January 22, 2021|Washington Post

British Dictionary definitions for spiky

spiky

/ (ˈspaɪkɪ) /

adjective spikier or spikiest

resembling a spike

having a spike or spikes

British informal ill-tempered

characterized by violent or aggressive methodsspiky protestors

Derived forms of spiky

spikily, adverbspikiness, noun

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

spiky

Origin of spiky

OTHER WORDS FROM spiky

Words nearby spiky

Words related to spiky

How to use spiky in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for spiky

Derived forms of spiky