Prickly
Sullen
Sullen adjective - Given to or displaying a resentful silence and often irritability.
Usage example: sullen and bored at his in-laws' house, he couldn't wait for the holidays to end
Prickly and sullen are semantically related. Sometimes you can use "Prickly" instead an adjective "Sullen".
Nearby Word: sullenly
Mutual synonyms
Both words in one sentence
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Jack is a little more overtly prickly even when helpful - at least with anyone other than Lily - while Owen is pretty sullen even while being nice.
Source: Webcomic / Tweep
Cite this Source
Sullen and Prickly. (2016). Retrieved 2026, July 28, from https://thesaurus.plus/related/prickly/sullen
Prickly & Sullen. N.p., 2016. Web. 28 Jul. 2026. <https://thesaurus.plus/related/prickly/sullen>.
Sullen or Prickly. 2016. Accessed July 28, 2026. https://thesaurus.plus/related/prickly/sullen.
Google Ngram Viewer shows how "prickly" and "sullen" have occurred on timeline