What context can I use each word in?
Learn when and how to use these words with these examples!
quilled
Example
The porcupine's quilled spines are its primary defense mechanism. [quilled: adjective]
Example
She spent hours quilling paper to create a beautiful design for her scrapbook. [quilling: gerund or present participle]
prickly
Example
Be careful not to touch the cactus, it's prickly and can hurt you. [prickly: adjective]
Example
He's always so prickly and defensive when someone criticizes his work. [prickly: adjective]
Example
The atmosphere in the room was prickly after their argument. [prickly: adjective]
Good things to know
Which word is more common?
Prickly is more commonly used than quilled in everyday language. Prickly is versatile and covers a wide range of contexts, while quilled is less common and refers to specific physical appearances or crafting techniques.
Whatโs the difference in the tone of formality between quilled and prickly?
Both quilled and prickly can be used in both formal and informal contexts. However, quilled may be more formal when used in the context of crafting or design, while prickly may be more informal when used to describe a person's demeanor or behavior.
