prickly Meaning, Definition & Usage

  1. adjective satellite very irritable
    waspish; bristly; splenetic.
    • bristly exchanges between the White House and the press
    • he became prickly and spiteful
    • witty and waspish about his colleagues
  2. adjective satellite having or covered with protective barbs or quills or spines or thorns or setae etc.
    barbed; burry; briary; bristly; briery; setaceous; thorny; barbellate; spiny; burred; setose; bristled.
    • a horse with a short bristly mane
    • bristly shrubs
    • burred fruits
    • setaceous whiskers

WordNet

Prick"ly adjective
Definitions
  1. Full of sharp points or prickles; armed or covered with prickles; as, a prickly shrub.

Webster 1913