‘That anyone could take offence at such an effort beggars belief and displays the small-mindedness and extreme prickliness that has come to typify ministers in this administration.’
‘Mid-way through her answer, her neatly measured affability gives way to a decided prickliness.’
‘Given his frequent prickliness over criticism and given his prevalent self-assurance as a writer, his openness to Bulwer's radical suggestion has surprised many commentators.’
‘Some of his prickliness was an expression of offended authority, but much of it also had to do with his own quick temper.’
‘It can be a case also of love not flowing smoothly, of prickliness, the discordance being felt internally and subconsciously.’
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