prickly
Covered in spines
Prickly describes something covered with prickles or sharp points: a prickly cactus, prickly brambles.
A prickly sensation is sharp and stinging, like pins against skin.
Figuratively, prickly describes someone easily irritated or quick to take offense: He gets prickly when you mention his ex.
A prickly subject is sensitive and likely to provoke disagreement.
Spiny desert plant
- thistleSpiny flowering weed
- brambleThorny wild shrub
- briarThorny shrub or bush
- hedgehogSpiny nocturnal mammal
porcupine · echidna · urchin · burr · nettle · rosebush · hawthorn · blackberry
Uneven in surface
- stubblyHaving short rough growth
- scratchyRough and irritating
- bristlyCovered with stiff hairs
- coarseRough in texture
spiky · scraggly · nubby · abrasive · jagged · poky · scabrous · fuzzy
Easily upset or offended
- testyShort-tempered, easily provoked
- crankyIll-tempered and peevish
- grumpyIrritable in temperament
- peevishHabitually fretful
tetchy · petulant · grouchy · snappy · cantankerous · irascible · querulous · fractious
Wary and restrained
- waryGuardedly alert
- standoffishUnfriendly in manner
- hostileAggressively unfriendly
- combativeInclined toward conflict
antagonistic · bristling · unwelcoming · territorial · thorny · difficult · confrontational · unapproachable
Pointed plant projection
- spikeSharp rise or point
- barbBackward-pointing spike
- needlePointed implement for sewing
- pointExact location or meaning
splinter · bristle · prong · spur · spine · quill · stinger · burr
Slight stinging sensation
- stingingCausing sharp pain
- itchyProvoking scratching urges
- burningCombustion in progress
- crawlingMoving on hands, knees
pins-and-needles · uncomfortable · irritating · smarting · nettling · chafing · scratchy · raw
cactus
Spiny desert plant
hedgehog · porcupine · echidna · urchin · burr · nettle · rosebush · hawthorn · blackberry · gorse
rough
Uneven in surface
coarse · spiky · scraggly · nubby · abrasive · jagged · poky · scabrous · fuzzy · hairy
touchy
Easily upset or offended
peevish · tetchy · petulant · grouchy · snappy · cantankerous · irascible · querulous · fractious · cross
guarded
Wary and restrained
- waryGuardedly alert
- standoffishUnfriendly in manner
- hostileAggressively unfriendly
combative · antagonistic · bristling · unwelcoming · territorial · thorny · difficult · confrontational · unapproachable · off-putting
thorn
Pointed plant projection
point · splinter · bristle · prong · spur · spine · quill · stinger · burr · spicule
tingling
Slight stinging sensation
crawling · pins-and-needles · uncomfortable · irritating · smarting · nettling · chafing · scratchy · raw
- touch sensationstouch, roughness, smoothness, softness, hardness
- touch feelingsrough, smooth, soft, hard, bumpy
- easily offendedtouchy, sensitive, defensive, testy, huffy
- fabric texturessoft, smooth, rough, silky, fuzzy
- irritabilitycranky, grouchy, grumpy, irritated, annoyed
- irritatingannoying, aggravating, bothersome, exasperating, frustrating
pricklyeasygoing
Relaxed in temperament
good-natured · affable · amiable · pleasant · agreeable
pricklystraightforward
Clear and uncomplicated
uncomplicated · simple · easy · unproblematic · manageable
- prick upRaise alertly
- pricks up one's earsBegins listening alertly
- prickly pearSpine-covered cactus, edible fruit
- prickly heatSweat-related skin rash
- pricked ears
- finger prickSmall puncture for sampling
prick, prickle, pricked, prickles, pricking, pricks, prickled, prickling, prickly pear