capable of wounding; a barbed compliment; a biting aphorism; pungent satire

[ Syn: biting , nipping , pungent , mordacious ]

having or covered with protective barbs or quills or spines or thorns or setae etc.; a horse with a short bristly mane; bristly shrubs; burred fruits; setaceous whiskers

[ Syn: barbellate , briary , briery , bristled , bristly , burred , burry , prickly , setose , setaceous , spiny , thorny ]