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.
Related Words
Relevance
as in stinging
Related Words
Dissimilar Words
Example Sentences
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.
Recent Examples of prickling
Jasmine Laws, MSNBC Newsweek, 13 Oct. 2025
Discomfort, such as a prickling sensation, at the site of the bite is also possible.
—Katia Hetter, CNN Money, 18 Sep. 2025
Whitefish salad prickling with chile and festooned with great tufts of cilantro.
—Bon Appétit Staff & Contributors, Bon Appetit Magazine, 20 Aug. 2025
Jakobus speaks in an Old World dialect, Pilsner, delivering brisk herbal aromas, hints of fresh levain bread and a prickling hop bitterness.
—Peter Rowe, San Diego Union-Tribune, 15 Aug. 2025
Adjective
It is spread to people and pets through the bites and scratches of an infected animal, and first symptoms may include flu, weakness, discomfort, fever, headache, as well as a prickling sensation at the site of the wound, before turning into more severe disease after around two weeks.
—Jasmine Laws, MSNBC Newsweek, 13 Oct. 2025
Discomfort, such as a prickling sensation, at the site of the bite is also possible.
—Katia Hetter, CNN Money, 18 Sep. 2025
Whitefish salad prickling with chile and festooned with great tufts of cilantro.
—Bon Appétit Staff & Contributors, Bon Appetit Magazine, 20 Aug. 2025
Jakobus speaks in an Old World dialect, Pilsner, delivering brisk herbal aromas, hints of fresh levain bread and a prickling hop bitterness.
—Peter Rowe, San Diego Union-Tribune, 15 Aug. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for prickling
Verb
-
Or use your finger, poking it about 2 inches into the soil.—
Karen Brewer Grossman,
Southern Living,
24 Oct. 2025
-
Matthew McConaughey is poking fun at himself.—
Saman Shafiq,
USA Today,
24 Oct. 2025
Adjective
-
Terry Smith will serve as the interim head coach for the rest of the season for the Nittany Lions (3-3, 0-3 Big Ten), who began the year with hopes of winning the national title only to have those hopes evaporate by early October with three consecutive losses, each one more stinging than the last.—
Travis Johnson,
Denver Post,
12 Oct. 2025
-
In the end, however, Disney handed a stinging defeat to Peltz.—
Morgan Chittum,
CNBC,
2 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
While the mother-daughter duo were out in Rome in September, the Kardashians star was criticized for letting North wear a dermal piercing on her middle finger.—
Hannah Sacks,
PEOPLE,
22 Oct. 2025
-
The current Gators football era is reaching an ear-piercing crescendo.—
Noah White,
Miami Herald,
16 Oct. 2025
Adjective
-
Never mind The Bear — meet the Boss, fighting the same demons and nagging feelings of self-doubt that would cause Carmy Berzatto to stoically nod in recognition.—
David Fear,
Rolling Stone,
22 Oct. 2025
-
Springer fought through multiple nagging injuries to drive in seven runs in the series.—
Tim Crowley,
MSNBC Newsweek,
22 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
Stores have cleared out their spooky decor and swapped it for tinsel and bows, and my shopping senses are tingling.—
Kasey Caminiti,
USA Today,
21 Oct. 2025
-
The star has been open about her symptoms, including numbness and tingling, before her diagnosis, and found comfort in finding a community.—
Lea Veloso,
StyleCaster,
10 Oct. 2025
Adjective
-
Please tell me the sequel could answer the most burning question of the ’00s: How could Austin not recognize Sam in that mask?—
Stephanie McNeal,
Glamour,
13 Aug. 2025
-
Cooper, 30, asked Hargitay one more burning question about the actors' on-screen alter egos: will Olivia and Elliot ever end up together?—
Victoria Edel,
People.com,
26 June 2025
Verb
-
Already, Chinese EVs have become top sellers in some emerging market countries and are increasingly penetrating the market in Europe, Britain, and Australia.—
Justin Worland,
Time,
24 Oct. 2025
-
Lecter’s main power was his penetrating thinking and sustained intuiting.—
Bryan Alexander,
USA Today,
20 Oct. 2025
Adjective
-
Who among us had a little pad on our nightstand, a stack of swollen notebooks beneath our bed, pages puffy with scrawl?—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
22 Oct. 2025
-
The swollen fibers then shrink and tighten up during drying, especially under high heat.—
Brandee Gruener,
Southern Living,
21 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Prickling.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/prickling. Accessed 30 Oct. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share