Prickly (Adjective)

Meaning 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".

Classification

All adjective clusters.

Synonyms

• Bristled
• Briary
• Bristly
• Burry
• Setose
• Burred
• Thorny
• Setaceous
• Barbellate
• Barbed
• Briery
• Spiny

Related Words

• Prickle (noun)
• Prickliness (noun)

Meaning ²

Very irritable; "bristly exchanges between the White House and the press"; "he became prickly and spiteful"; "witty and waspish about his colleagues".

Classification

All adjective clusters.

Synonyms

• Bristly
• Waspish
• Splenetic