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prickliness

 - 2 dictionary results

prick⋅ly

  [prik-lee]
Use prickliness in a Sentence
–adjective, -li⋅er, -li⋅est.
1. full of or armed with prickles.
2. full of troublesome points: a prickly problem.
3. prickling; smarting: a prickly sensation.
Origin:
1570–80; prickle + -y 1

Related forms:
prick⋅li⋅ness, noun
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
Cite This Source Link To prickliness
prick·ly   (prĭk'lē)   
adj.   prick·li·er, prick·li·est

  1. Having prickles.

  2. Prickling or tingling or smarting: a prickly sensation in my foot.

    1. Causing trouble or vexation; thorny: a prickly situation.

    2. Bristling or irritable: "In consequence, he became rebarbative, prickly, spiteful" (Robert Craft).

prick'li·ness n.
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2009 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
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