spiky

spiky — adjective

1. having thin, sharp points that stick out from a surface, like the needles on a h

1.adjectiveB1
Definition

having thin, sharp points that stick out from a surface, like the needles on a hedgehog or the leaves of certain desert plants

Example

The hedgehog curled into a ball, hiding behind its spiky back.

describes an animal's protective feature

Justin styled his wet hair into a spiky look before the school dance.

collocation: spiky hair

Common collocations
  • spiky hair
  • spiky leaves
  • spiky shell
  • spiky fence
  • spiky plant
  • spiky fruit
Synonyms
  • prickly

    more about feeling irritation on the skin when touched; 'prickly' often focuses on the sensation, while 'spiky' focuses on the appearance

  • thorny

    used mainly for plants with thorns (roses, brambles); 'thorny' is stronger for botanical contexts

  • pointed

    less dramatic than 'spiky'; simply describes a tapering shape without the sense of danger

  • barbed

    suggests backward-facing hooks (e.g. barbed wire); more specific than 'spiky'

Antonyms
  • smooth

    a surface without any bumps or sharp points

  • blunt

    having a rounded or flat end rather than a sharp point

Common Mistakes

The cactus is very spiky so I pricked the needles.
The cactus is very spiky so I pricked my finger on its needles.
'pricked the needles' sounds like the needles were injured; 'spiky' describes the plant, not the action.

2. describes a person who reacts to others with impatient or unfriendly words when

2.adjectiveB2
Definition

describes a person who reacts to others with impatient or unfriendly words when something bothers them, or a remark that sounds harsh and annoyed

Example

Ada gave a spiky reply when her colleague interrupted her work for the third time.

collocation: spiky reply

The manager's spiky comments during the meeting made everyone feel tense.

Common collocations
  • spiky personality
  • spiky manner
  • spiky tone
  • spiky remark
  • spiky reply
  • spiky comment
Synonyms
  • irritable

    broader and more neutral; can describe a permanent state or a temporary feeling, while 'spiky' is more about the outward behaviour

  • prickly

    very similar but 'prickly' emphasises being easily offended, while 'spiky' emphasises responding sharply

  • testy

    slightly more formal; suggests impatience with small problems

  • sharp

    can describe quick, cutting remarks; broader in meaning than 'spiky'

Antonyms
  • warm

    friendly and kind in manner, the opposite of sharp or impatient

  • easy-going

    not easily bothered or annoyed; relaxed in social situations

Usage Note

This sense is informal and usually describes a person's temporary mood or a specific remark, rather than a permanent personality trait. It is less strong than 'hostile' or 'aggressive' — a spiky person is sharp and impatient but not openly attacking.

Common Mistakes

My mother is a spiky person who yells every day.
My mother can be spiky in the mornings before she has her coffee.
'spiky' describes temporary sharpness, not a constant aggressive trait; use 'irritable' or 'bad-tempered' for permanent states.

Word family

  • spike
    nounB1
  • spike
    verbB2
  • spikily
    adverbC1
  • spikiness
    nounC1

Synonym discussion

Sense: adjective/1

All four words describe things with sharp, projecting points, but they differ in what they emphasise. 'Prickly' focuses on how something feels when touched — a prickly sweater or a prickly chin after shaving. 'Thorny' is specifically about plants that have actual thorns, like roses or blackberry bushes, and often carries a sense of being difficult to handle. 'Pointed' is the most neutral term — it simply describes a tapering shape (a pointed roof, pointed shoes) without suggesting danger. 'Barbed' describes points with backward-facing hooks, as in barbed wire or a barbed fishhook, and implies that pulling away causes more damage. 'Spiky' sits between 'prickly' and 'thorny' — it can describe animals (hedgehogs), plants (cacti), or objects (fences), and it emphasises the visible, outward appearance of sharp points more than the sensation of touching them.

pricklythornypointed ↗barbed

Common collocations

Adverbs

  • rather spiky
  • quite spiky
  • very spiky
  • a little spiky

Etymology

Old NorseMiddle EnglishEnglish

Formed by adding the suffix '-y' (which turns nouns into adjectives meaning 'having the quality of') to the noun 'spike', which originally referred to a large nail or sharp-pointed object. 'Spike' came into English from Old Norse 'spīk', meaning a nail or splinter, through the Viking settlements in northern England. The adjective 'spiky' has been used since the 16th century for physical sharp points; the figurative sense describing a person's manner appeared in the early 20th century.