prickly

Prickly is an adjective used for surfaces or objects that have sharp projections such as spines, thorns, or prickles, making them unpleasant or dangerous to touch. It can also describe something that causes a prickling or stinging sensation, such as certain textiles or cold wind. In everyday language, prickly may describe a person or situation that is irritable, sensitive, or difficult to deal with.

In botany, prickles, spines, and thorns are distinct structures. Prickles are small, superficial outgrowths from the epidermis or cortex, as seen on roses. Spines are modified leaves or parts of leaves, common on cacti. Thorns are modified stems, found on many shrubs and trees. The term prickly is often used loosely to describe plants with any of these sharp features.

Common examples include the prickly pear cactus, blackberry canes, and rose bushes. Clothing or materials described as prickly may irritate the skin, such as rough wool or stiff fabric. The phrase prickly subject is used metaphorically to indicate a topic that invites defensive or cautious discussion.

See also terms such as spiny, thorny, bristly, and barbed, which describe related textures or characteristics.