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Surly vs Prickly - What's the difference?

surly | prickly |

As adjectives the difference between surly and prickly

is that surly is (obsolete) lordly, arrogant, supercilious while prickly is covered with sharp points.

As an adverb surly

is (obsolete) in an arrogant or supercilious manner.

surly

English

Adjective

(er)
  • (obsolete) Lordly, arrogant, supercilious.
  • Irritated, bad-tempered, unfriendly.
  • Threatening, menacing, gloomy.
    • The surly weather put us all in a bad mood.

    Adverb

    (er)
  • (obsolete) In an arrogant or supercilious manner.
  • * 1623 , , Julius Caesar , I.iii,
    • Against the Capitol I met a lion / Who glazed upon me, and went surly

    prickly

    English

    Adjective

    (er)
  • Covered with sharp points.
    • Prickly pear is a cactus, you have to peel it before eating it to remove the spines and the tough skin.
  • Easily irritated.
    • He has a prickly personality. He doesn't get along with people because he is easily set off.
  • difficult, hairy, complicated

    • Synonyms

    * (covered with sharp points) thorny, spiny

    Derived terms

    * prickly comfrey * prickly glasswort * prickly heat * prickly saltwort * prickly sculpin * prickly shield fern * prickly tang