What context can I use each word in?
Learn when and how to use these words with these examples!
prickly
Example
The cactus has a prickly exterior that can be painful to touch. [prickly: adjective]
Example
She has a prickly personality and gets angry easily. [prickly: adjective]
Example
The conversation became prickly when they started discussing politics. [prickly: adjective]
pricky
Example
The sweater was itchy and pricky against my skin. [pricky: adjective]
Example
He's always making pricky comments that nobody finds funny. [pricky: adjective]
Example
The atmosphere in the room was pricky after the argument. [pricky: adjective]
Good things to know
Which word is more common?
Prickly is more common than pricky in everyday language. Prickly is versatile and covers a wide range of contexts, while pricky is less common and mainly used in informal situations.
What’s the difference in the tone of formality between prickly and pricky?
Neither prickly nor pricky is particularly formal or informal. Both words can be used in various formality levels, depending on the context and tone of the conversation.
