thistly

adjective

Definition of thistlynext
as in prickly
having leaves or branches which are likely to cause a scratch caught her sleeve on a thistly bush

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Examples Sentences

Recent Examples of Synonyms for thistly
  1. prickly
  2. jagged
  3. thorny
  4. scratchy
Adjective
  • To many observers’ surprise, a prickly challenge that stymied city leaders a year ago ended in harmony, with a settlement seemingly favorable both to the city and to the elderly residents of Baldwin House.
    Bill Laytner, Detroit Free Press, 19 Nov. 2024
  • That prickly sense of anxiety, constantly reading the tea leaves as a matter of survival, is just part of the ecosystem, like the blistering summer heat.
    Karen D'Souza, The Mercury News, 15 Nov. 2024
Definition of prickly
Adjective
  • To the north, not visible from the beach, was a distant shore, where rows of mountains resembling jagged waves disappeared into the mist.
    Greg Jackson, The New Yorker, 3 Nov. 2024
  • The jagged shadows of buttes and spires disappeared and reappeared, a merry-go-round of angles cast on to the cascading rocks cradling the Colorado River.
    Lane Sainty, The Arizona Republic, 3 Nov. 2024
Definition of jagged
Adjective
  • The trademark application illustrates the thorny conflict-of-interest issues raised by Trump’s election victory and his sprawling business empire.
    Matt Egan, CNN, 21 Nov. 2024
  • Simultaneously, Christopher Nolan’s epic historical drama explored the thorniest corners of the 20th century — taking aim at the West’s use of nuclear weapons (notably without showing their horrifying aftermath) and earning nearly $976 million worldwide.
    Alison Foreman, IndieWire, 20 Nov. 2024
Definition of thorny
Adjective
  • Telltale warning signs of a cold usually include sneezing, runny nose, congestion, and scratchy throat.
    Sarah Bradley, Health, 6 Oct. 2024
  • But Frank was more the scratchy handwriting type, prone to splotch—not one to weep, let alone for long.
    Carlos Valladares, ARTnews.com, 4 Oct. 2024
Definition of scratchy
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.

Thesaurus Entries Near thistly

this

thistly

thorax

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Cite this Entry

“Thistly.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/thistly. Accessed 1 Dec. 2024.

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