as in to pierce
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
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of prickle
Laura Schober, Health, 3 Sep. 2024
Then more debilitating symptoms appeared — including blurred vision, headache, tinnitus, nausea and more — before the tingling and prickling sensations reached her legs.
—Julia Marnin, Miami Herald, 14 May 2024
Los Angeles Times, 30 Sep. 2021
The hairs on the back of our neck prickle.
—Christie Wilcox, Discover Magazine, 13 June 2012
See all Example Sentences for prickle 
Verb
This may lead to symptoms such as seizures, muscle spasms and contractions, and paresthesia (the sensation of prickling, burning, or tingling in the skin).
—Laura Schober, Health, 3 Sep. 2024
Then more debilitating symptoms appeared — including blurred vision, headache, tinnitus, nausea and more — before the tingling and prickling sensations reached her legs.
—Julia Marnin, Miami Herald, 14 May 2024
Noun
My skin got that proper prickle.
—Los Angeles Times, 30 Sep. 2021
The hairs on the back of our neck prickle.
—Christie Wilcox, Discover Magazine, 13 June 2012
See all Example Sentences for prickle
Recent Examples of Synonyms for prickle
Verb
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And that’s not all: Ellis says there’s also an emerging trend for parents and their children of all ages piercing their bodies at the same time.—
Hannah Silverman,
Parents,
14 Feb. 2025
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But nowhere pierces my heart more than German cemeteries, where special sections are dedicated to babies who die before or shortly after birth.—
Blane Bachelor,
AFAR Media,
12 Feb. 2025
Noun
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Fox News Digital recently reported the CDC is closely monitoring reports of a spike in human metapneumovirus (HMPV) in China.—
Alexandra Koch,
Fox News,
9 Feb. 2025
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The number of homeless parents aged 18-24 increased by 39 people, a 64% spike.—
Max Klaver,
Miami Herald,
7 Feb. 2025
Verb
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Allow the cake to cool for 10 minutes then use the handle end of a wooden spoon to poke holes about 1 1/2 inches apart all the way through the cake.—
Bev Barrett,
Twin Cities,
7 Feb. 2025
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Even Belichick's former New England Patriots players poked fun at his relationship during The Roast of Tom Brady in May 2024.—
Kristan Hawkins,
Newsweek,
7 Feb. 2025
Noun
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In other legislative news: Gov. Katie Hobbs and House appropriations chair Rep. David Livingston (R-Peoria) traded barbs over a budget shortfall in the state's developmental disabilities program.—
Jeremy Duda,
Axios,
7 Feb. 2025
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Following the post, Altman and Musk have traded barbs on the platform, with Musk, who’s in an ongoing lawsuit with OpenAI, sharing former posts critical of Trump from Altman to his own X page.—
Donald Judd,
CNN,
24 Jan. 2025
Verb
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Should sting operations be left to the professionals?—
Julia Marnin,
Miami Herald,
4 Feb. 2025
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The tariffs against Canada and Mexico are especially stinging due to the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement, a trade pact that was a signature agreement under Trump’s first administration.—
Mabinty Quarshie,
Washington Examiner - Political News and Conservative Analysis About Congress, the President, and the Federal Government,
1 Feb. 2025
Noun
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Zoom in: The story appears to have started when Politico missed payroll on Tuesday because of a tech snag, media reporter Will Sommer notes.—
Erica Pandey,
Axios,
5 Feb. 2025
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Image In the past few years, as pandemic supply chain snags and geopolitical shocks produced a spike in prices around the world, officials in Japan seized the opportunity to turn elevated import costs into lasting inflation.—
River Akira Davis,
New York Times,
24 Jan. 2025
Verb
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The video showed an endless sequence of bunnies hopping through meadows and being gently tickled behind the ears.—
Nicola Twilley,
The New Yorker,
3 Feb. 2025
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Sam Warren, Adam Klein Studio: Searchlight Production Companies: Scott Free TICKLE ME ELMO by Aaron Karo The true story of how one toy saved Sesame Street, shocked Wall Street, and tickled the nation.—
Anthony D'Alessandro,
Deadline,
10 Dec. 2024
Noun
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Just pop on one of the stickers to suck excess buildup from blemishes in, oftentimes, a few hours.—
Kiana Murden,
Vogue,
7 Feb. 2025
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At this stage in the bespoke process, the basting thread disfigured the jacket, dividing it into quadrants, and the buttons were nothing but stickers.—
Gary Shteyngart,
The Atlantic,
7 Feb. 2025
Thesaurus Entries Near prickle
Cite this Entry
“Prickle.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/prickle. Accessed 21 Feb. 2025.
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