Meaning of prickly in English

1. Pronunciation

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   UK accent

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1. Classifying Adjective

   prickly

   Definitions

   1. very irritable

   Examples

   • « bristly exchanges between the White House and the press »
   • « he became prickly and spiteful »
   • « witty and waspish about his colleagues »

   Synonyms

   • ill-natured
2. 2. having or covered with protective barbs or quills or spines or thorns or setae etc.

   Examples

   • « a horse with a short bristly mane »
   • « bristly shrubs »
   • « burred fruits »
   • « setaceous whiskers »

   Synonyms

   • armed