What does "prickly" mean?

Something that gives a pricking sensation; a sharp object.

What is a synonym for "prickly"?

Common synonyms include: thorny, acanaceous, acanthoid, aciculate, aculeate, aculeated.

adj, adv, noun, slang

adj, adv, noun, slang ·2 syllables ·Common ·High school level

Noun

1
Something that gives a pricking sensation; a sharp object. colloquial
"Below, way out on the flat, Blue had seen a light green that could be graze but up here was nothing 'cept all kinds of prickly bushes, and too many of them. Ground-spreading pricklies that reached out to jump at a horse's belly […]"

Adjective

1
Covered with sharp points.
"The prickly pear is a cactus; you have to peel it before eating it to remove the spines and the tough skin."
2
Easily irritated. figuratively
"He has a prickly personality. He doesn't get along with people because he is easily set off."
3
Difficult; complicated; hairy or thorny. figuratively
"It was a prickly situation."

Adjective

1
having or covered with protective barbs or quills or spines or thorns or setae etc. wordnet
2
very irritable wordnet

Adverb

1
In a prickly manner.
"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."