prickly

The initiative comes as France is seeking to improve relations with Africa, particularly in former colonies with which it has prickly ties.

From Barron's ● Sep. 4, 2026

This version simmers ripe peaches with honey and whole black peppercorns until the fruit collapses and the syrup turns fragrant, floral and just a little prickly.

From Salon ● Aug. 16, 2026

Despite a sometimes prickly relationship with Kyiv, President Trump’s administration has been reaching out to Ukraine.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 12, 2026

His Alan Grant is distinct enough to register as prickly and a little inside himself.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 13, 2026

“You’re quite prickly tonight,” he said, trailing her.

From "Throne of Glass" by Sarah J. Maas

The characters were pricklier and more restless than I remembered, and Alcott’s voice—good-natured but chiding, unsentimental—was a revelation.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Feb. 5, 2026

To Chalamet’s credit, he’s doing it the hard way, avoiding sentimental pictures for pricklier roles about his own naked ambitions.

From Los Angeles Times ● Dec. 23, 2025

And now there are circumstances to navigate that are pricklier than the actors’ five o’clock shadows.

From Salon ● Nov. 24, 2025

Mulaney’s comedy, however, has become spikier, pricklier, sometimes slower while remaining as funny as ever, like he’s a pitcher who learned to mix up speeds.

From New York Times ● Apr. 25, 2023

Things have been pricklier with Edna since she got in trouble, but I’m trying my best to ignore it and move on.

From "Merci Suárez Changes Gears" by Meg Medina

At its prickliest, this is a film about the ways social niceties can mask deep distrust and dark pasts — which still have a way of surfacing eventually.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jun. 9, 2023

But the prickliest part of their schedule still lay ahead.

From Seattle Times ● Jan. 18, 2023

Defence and security is among the prickliest topics in the continuing debate over Scottish independence and would likely be a defining issue in any future referendum campaign.

From BBC ● May 18, 2022

Berhe did not receive the prickliest questions from the committee.

From Science Magazine ● Aug. 3, 2021

Maggie was frowning, and twisting her shoulders, that she might, if possible, shrink away from the prickliest of tuckers; while her mother was saying, "Don't, Maggie, my dear—don't look so ugly!"

From Tom and Maggie Tulliver by George Eliot