Prick-eared is an adjective used to describe animals with ears that point upright, such as cats, dogs, and rabbits. However, there are many different synonyms that can be used to describe such animals, depending on the context of the sentence. For example, one might use the word alert to describe a dog with prick-eared ears that is paying close attention to its surroundings. Other possible synonyms include attentive, watchful, perked-up, and sharp-eared. Ultimately, the choice of synonym depends on the tone and meaning of the sentence, and how the writer wishes to convey the animal's characteristics to the reader.