spiked

spiked — adjective

1. describes an object that has one or more sharp, pointed parts sticking out from

1.adjectiveB2
Definition

describes an object that has one or more sharp, pointed parts sticking out from its surface, usually for protection, decoration, or use as a weapon

Example

Hoa's dog wore a thick leather collar with metal spikes attached to it.

collocation: spiked collar

The iron fence had spiked rails that kept people from climbing over.

collocation: spiked rails / spiked fence

Common collocations
  • spiked collar
  • spiked fence
  • spiked gate
  • spiked helmet
  • spiked bracelet
Synonyms
  • pointed

    general term for anything tapering to a point; less specific than 'spiked' about the presence of separate spike-like projections

  • barbed

    specifically describes wire or objects with backward-facing points that catch or snag; stronger sense of dangerousness

  • prickly

    describes surfaces with many small sharp points like a cactus or hedgehog; less structured than a spiked object

Antonyms
  • smooth

    completely flat and even, with no raised parts at all

Usage Note

Commonly used to describe protective or defensive objects such as collars, fences, gates, helmets, and weapons. The object noun almost always appears before the adjective — the opposite order (e.g. 'a collar that is spiked') is possible but far less frequent.

Common Mistakes

He stepped on a spiked nail.
He stepped on a spike.
Use the noun 'spike' for a single pointed object; 'spiked' as an adjective describes an object that has spikes on it.

2. describes hair that has been shaped into thin, stiff, upright points, usually by

2.adjectiveB2
Definition

describes hair that has been shaped into thin, stiff, upright points, usually by applying hair products such as gel or wax

Example

Hamza styled his hair into spiked tips for the punk rock concert on Saturday.

collocation: spiked tips / spiked hair

Sofia's spiked hairstyle required a lot of gel and hairspray to keep its shape.

collocation: spiked hairstyle

Common collocations
  • spiked hair
  • spiked hairstyle
  • spiked tips
  • spiked look
Synonyms
  • spiky

    broader term — can describe natural texture or rough feeling, not necessarily deliberately styled

Usage Note

This sense is strongly tied to hairstyling contexts. Almost always describes deliberately styled hair, not naturally spiky or uncombed hair. The natural equivalent uses the adjective 'spiky' instead.

3. describes a drink that has been secretly mixed with drugs or extra alcohol, ofte

3.adjectiveB2
Definition

describes a drink that has been secretly mixed with drugs or extra alcohol, often to cause harm or make the drinker lose control

Example

Police arrested a man who was caught giving spiked drinks to customers at the bar.

collocation: spiked drink

Tunde felt dizzy after two sips and realized someone had given him a spiked beverage.

collocation: spiked beverage

Common collocations
  • spiked drink
  • spiked punch
  • spiked beverage
  • spiked bottle
Synonyms
  • laced

    very similar in meaning; slightly more general — can apply to food as well as drinks, and the added substance may not be harmful

  • drugged

    more specific; makes clear that a drug was added, whereas 'spiked' can also refer to extra alcohol

Antonyms
  • unadulterated

    formal term meaning pure and not mixed with anything extra

Usage Note

Almost always used before a noun describing a beverage (drink, punch, beverage). The identity of the substance is often deliberately unclear — 'spiked' implies something was added secretly, but not necessarily what. Distinguish from sense 1 — in this sense it describes the drink itself, not a physical object with points.

Common Mistakes

The coffee was spiked with sugar.
The coffee was spiked with a sedative.
'Spiked' implies something harmful or secret; for ordinary additions like sugar or milk, use 'added' or 'put in.'

Word family

Synonym discussion

Sense: adjective/1

All four words describe objects with sharp or projecting parts, but they differ in the kind of surface they suggest. 'Pointed' is the most general — anything that tapers to a point, from a pencil to a spear. 'Barbed' specifically describes backward-facing hooks that catch or snag, most often in compound 'barbed wire.' 'Prickly' describes a surface covered with many small sharp points, like a cactus or hedgehog; it can also describe an irritable personality. 'Spiked' implies deliberate, noticeable point-like projections (spikes) attached to or part of an object, such as a spiked collar or spiked fence. 'Spiky' is the adjective for natural texture (spiky hair, spiky leaves). For example: 'The roses are prickly, but the gate has spiked rails.'

pointed ↗barbedpricklyspiky ↗

Common collocations

Nouns

  • spiked collar
  • spiked hair
  • spiked drink
  • spiked fence
  • spiked helmet
  • spiked bracelet
  • spiked punch

Phrases

  • spiked with something

Etymology

Old NorseMiddle EnglishEnglish

The adjective 'spiked' comes from the noun 'spike' (a thin, sharp-pointed piece of metal or wood) plus the suffix '-ed' meaning 'having.' The noun 'spike' entered Middle English around the 1200s, probably borrowed from Old Norse 'spík' meaning a nail or pointed rod. The hairstyling sense developed in the 1980s alongside punk subculture. The 'drugged drink' sense emerged in the 1990s as a shortened form of the verb phrase 'to spike a drink,' where 'spike' suggested the sharp, hidden addition of a foreign substance.