4
excitable(adjective, nervous, sensitive, irritable, tense)
4
hard(burning, stinging, tingly)
4
intricate(adjective, thorny, spiky, spiny)
4
moody(adjective, cross, unpleasant, nervous, sensitive)
4
pettish(sensitive, quick-tempered)
4
pricky(adjective, sharp, thorny)
4
querulous(adjective, cross, sensitive, emotional, vulnerable)
4
snappy(adjective, tough, harsh, cross, gloomy)
4
sore(adjective, painful, burning, stinging, tingly)
4
sour(adjective, tough, difficult, harsh, irritable)
4
temperamental(adjective, unpleasant, sensitive, disagreeable, ill-tempered)
4
tender(adjective, painful, burning, stinging, tingly)
4
tetchy(adjective, cross, nervous, sensitive, irritable)
3
acanthoid
3
acrimonious(adjective, tough, harsh, awkward, irritable)
3
bearish(adjective, difficult, cross, irritable, emotional)
3
churlish(adjective, unpleasant, irritable, disagreeable, grumpy)
3
coarse
3
complex
3
crotchety(adjective, tough, difficult, harsh, cross)
10 years ago|10k views|share |citing 
APASmart Define. (2016). prickly thesaurus. Retrieved September 21, 2026, from https://smartdefine.org/prickly/thesaurus/synonyms
ChicagoSmart Define. 2016. "prickly thesaurus" https://smartdefine.org/prickly/thesaurus/synonyms (accessed September 21, 2026).
HarvardSmart Define 2016, prickly thesaurus, Smart Define, viewed 21 September, 2026, <https://smartdefine.org/prickly/thesaurus/synonyms>.
MLASmart Define. "prickly thesaurus" 3 March 2016. Web. 21 September 2026. <https://smartdefine.org/prickly/thesaurus/synonyms>