prickly
Example Sentences
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The initiative comes as France is seeking to improve relations with Africa, particularly in former colonies with which it has prickly ties.
From Barron's ● Sep. 4, 2026
Yoon’s prickly, unlikable James is the character many will align with, to their chagrin.
From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 19, 2026
This is where the film becomes its most prickly.
From Salon ● Aug. 8, 2026
Such attitudes have been ridiculed in the U.S. press, and prickly French politicians are now upset we noticed.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jun. 30, 2026
She had that prickly cold feeling that had followed her in the parking lot right after they’d gotten the first key.
From "Aru Shah and the End of Time" by Roshani Chokshi
The characters were pricklier and more restless than I remembered, and Alcott’s voice—good-natured but chiding, unsentimental—was a revelation.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Feb. 5, 2026
To Chalamet’s credit, he’s doing it the hard way, avoiding sentimental pictures for pricklier roles about his own naked ambitions.
From Los Angeles Times ● Dec. 23, 2025
“Some incredible news organizations here,” began one of his pricklier jokes, finished by: “Also, some credible ones.”
From New York Times ● Apr. 28, 2024
Few franchises' fans are pricklier about canon than Trekkers unless the contradictions or violations in question occur on a show deemed nearly beyond reproach — like "Star Trek: Strange New Worlds."
From Salon ● Jul. 27, 2023
Things have been pricklier with Edna since she got in trouble, but I’m trying my best to ignore it and move on.
From "Merci Suárez Changes Gears" by Meg Medina
At its prickliest, this is a film about the ways social niceties can mask deep distrust and dark pasts — which still have a way of surfacing eventually.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jun. 9, 2023
But the prickliest part of their schedule still lay ahead.
From Seattle Times ● Jan. 18, 2023
Defence and security is among the prickliest topics in the continuing debate over Scottish independence and would likely be a defining issue in any future referendum campaign.
From BBC ● May 18, 2022
Berhe did not receive the prickliest questions from the committee.
From Science Magazine ● Aug. 3, 2021
She'd set over a roarin' fire in the cook-stove even in the prickliest o' the dog-days.
From Timothy's Quest A Story for Anybody, Young or Old, Who Cares to Read It by Kate Douglas Smith Wiggin
Vocabulary lists containing prickly
"American Names"
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"Terrible Things"
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Spelling Practice, Unit 5
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