prickling 1 of 2

prickling

2 of 2

verb

present participle of prickle
as in poking
to cause or experience an unpleasant feeling that is like the feeling of having many small, sharp points against your skin The burrs were prickling my arm. The wool sweater prickled my skin.

Synonyms & Similar Words

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of Synonyms for prickling
Verb
  • On Wednesday, March 19, the couple filmed an Instagram Reel poking fun at their recent red carpet interview with Extra at the grand re-opening of Planet Hollywood in NYC on Tuesday, March 11.
    Charna Flam, People.com, 20 Mar. 2025
  • Roots Growing Out Drainage Holes Roots poking out of the drainage holes at the bottom of the pot is a sure sign your plant needs a bigger pot.
    Leanne Potts, Better Homes & Gardens, 24 Mar. 2025
Adjective
  • Now nine starts into his campaign after some nagging spring injuries delayed his season debut, Schmidt has a 4.04 ERA.
    Gary Phillips, New York Daily News, 5 June 2025
  • Shin splints are one of those nagging running injuries that often only go away with rest.
    Sara Coughlin, SELF, 5 June 2025
Verb
  • Justin previously debuted a nostril piercing almost a decade ago with an Instagram selfie in 2016, according to outlets Cosmopolitan and Refinery29.
    Michelle Lee, People.com, 31 Mar. 2025
  • There was something stark and piercing in me that was much closer to clarity than to muddle, but calling it a muddle took less effort.
    Yiyun Li, The New Yorker, 23 Mar. 2025
Adjective
  • Mud puddles are courageous, too, when returning the unblinking, burning gaze of the sky’s white eye.
    contributing Monitor poets, Christian Science Monitor, 23 Apr. 2025
  • Equal to Tesfaye’s navel-gazing, Shults uses every trick in the music-video playbook to conjure a vivid, ultra-saturated but not quite realistic universe where the Weeknd is a brightly burning sun everyone revolves around.
    Todd Gilchrist, Variety, 15 May 2025
Verb
  • The thermal conductivity of the lunar surface acts as a blanket and stops some of the sun’s heat from penetrating into the ground.
    Paul Smaglik, Discover Magazine, 6 Mar. 2025
  • Every lifestyle guru worth watching has some uniquely irrepressible quality, from the Martha-like obsessiveness with which Gwyneth approaches wellness to Oprah’s talent for penetrating conversation.
    Judy Berman, TIME, 4 Mar. 2025
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

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Cite this Entry

“Prickling.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/prickling. Accessed 10 Jun. 2025.

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