» spiny

Words people most associate with “spiny”:

  1. anteater,
  2. sharp,
  3. toad,
  4. cactus,
  5. porcupine

[via wordassociation.org]

Adjective (2 meanings)

1. having spines.

spinous, spiny

Example:
  • “the dorsal fin is spinous”
spiny is the opposite of:
  • spineless (adjective) - lacking spiny processes

2. having or covered with protective barbs or quills or spines or thorns or setae etc..

barbed, barbellate, briary, briery, bristled, bristly, burred, burry, prickly, setose, setaceous, spiny, thorny

Examples:
  • “a horse with a short bristly mane”,
  • “bristly shrubs”,
  • “burred fruits”,
  • “setaceous whiskers”
Derivationally related form:
spiny is similar to:
  • armed (adjective) - (used of plants and animals) furnished with bristles and thorns