Acanaceous is an adjective that describes anything that is spiny or prickly. There are a few synonyms for acanaceous that you can use, depending on the context of the sentence. Some of the options include barbed, bristly, thorny, spiky, prickly, brambly, and thistly. These words can be used in sentences like "The acanaceous cactus had many sharp spines" or "The bristly hedge scratched at my arms as I tried to pass by". By using alternative words, you can make your writing sound more descriptive and colorful, while still conveying the same meaning as the original word.