Prickliness

Prickliness refers to the state or quality of being easily irritated, annoyed, or offended; a tendency to react with sharp or negative emotions. It can describe both a person's temperament and the characteristic of a situation or environment that fosters irritation. The term often implies a sensitivity to perceived slights, criticism, or discomfort, leading to defensive or confrontational responses. It suggests a certain degree of touchiness, where one's emotional defenses are easily triggered. This heightened sensitivity might stem from insecurity, stress, or underlying emotional issues, resulting in behaviors that are considered guarded, short-tempered, or easily agitated. This behavior might also be a defense mechanism to show you cannot be influenced and or hurt.

Prickliness meaning with examples

• The customer's prickliness was immediately apparent when the cashier asked for identification; he perceived the request as an accusation and responded with a sharp, defensive tone. The store manager had to intervene to calm the situation, explaining the policy. He was experiencing a very bad day with a very bad mood and this caused him prickliness. In this situation, he was prone to misinterpret things in a negative light.
• The atmosphere in the office was thick with prickliness after the layoffs; employees walked on eggshells, fearful of saying or doing the wrong thing. The unspoken tension created a strained environment, making even casual conversations awkward. The general irritability and defensive behavior was an expected result of people feeling insecure about their jobs. The manager tried to calm the mood, but was met with prickliness.
• Despite the initial friendly interview, the interviewer's prickliness became increasingly evident as he became critical of the applicant's past performance and choices. The applicant felt as though he couldn't relax with this, he was constantly on edge waiting for the next criticism. The interview was a test, with a lot of challenges to determine how the person reacts to prickliness.
• The sudden change in weather brought a noticeable prickliness to the picnic; wasps buzzed around the food, and a sudden downpour sent everyone scrambling for cover. What was once an exciting day for the family was now a hassle. The combination of the weather, the wasps, and the resulting chaos created an irritable environment, with everyone snapping at each other.