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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Example Sentences

Recent Examples of Synonyms for thistly
  1. prickly
  2. jagged
  3. thorny
  4. scratchy
Adjective
  • In Lourdes, Leo will be reminded of a prickly abuse case inherited from Pope Francis.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 21 Sep. 2026
  • If only his dour and prickly assistant Patricia (Kate O’Flynn) would stop mentioning her encounter with the murderous Boogeyman.
    — Culture Critic, Los Angeles Times, 11 Sep. 2026
Definition of prickly
Adjective
  • These edges can therefore appear jagged or stair-stepped, an effect called aliasing.
    — Aman Kumar, Encyclopedia Britannica, 30 Sep. 2026
  • Video filmed by Tubasi’s son and shared with CNN shows debris scattered on the floor, doors and appliances smashed and walls left with large, jagged holes.
    — Zeena Saifi, CNN Money, 29 Sep. 2026
Definition of jagged
Adjective
  • And resist the temptation to divert urgent discussions toward thorny disputes.
    — Geoffrey Irving, Time, 3 Oct. 2026
  • Hinds had to act opposite during some of Cathy’s thornier moments.
    — Chris Murphy, Vanity Fair, 30 Sep. 2026
Definition of thorny
Adjective
  • The look is crisp, angular, and metallic, with lots of straight lines and slender silhouettes, and sits in pleasing contrast alongside luscious velvet and scratchy linen, rough stone, warm terracotta, or grainy timber.
    — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 11 Sep. 2026
  • Winning ugly has become a kind of superpower for her, in the years when scratchy form emerged more often than not.
    — Matthew Futterman, New York Times, 9 Sep. 2026
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.

Browse Nearby Words

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 9 Oct. 2026.

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