a thorn in the/someone's flesh/side
idiom
: a person or thing that repeatedly annoys someone or something or causes problems
He's been a thorn in my side for years.
a thorn in the side of the industry
Examples of a thorn in the/someone's flesh/side in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Khan has also been a thorn in the side of PBMs that have come under scrutiny for reportedly helping to keep certain prescription drug prices high, including those of insulin products.
—
Joshua P. Cohen, Forbes, 16 Dec. 2024
Chaos has convulsed the heart of the European Union whose sanctions and military support for Kyiv have proven to be a thorn in the side of Putin's intentions.
—Daniel R. Depetris, Newsweek, 8 Dec. 2024
Cruz has also been a thorn in the side of Democratic efforts to combat climate change, and research advocates are fearful that his chairmanship will give him an even bigger platform on those issues.
—Byjeffrey Mervis, science.org, 12 Nov. 2024
Lai, a billionaire media tycoon who had long been a thorn in the side of Beijing, was arrested in August 2020, shortly after the central Chinese government imposed a national security law that criminalizes secession, subversion, terrorism and collusion with foreign forces.
—Jennifer Jett, NBC News, 12 Nov. 2024
See all Example Sentences for a thorn in the/someone's flesh/side 
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Joshua P. Cohen, Forbes, 16 Dec. 2024
Chaos has convulsed the heart of the European Union whose sanctions and military support for Kyiv have proven to be a thorn in the side of Putin's intentions.
—Daniel R. Depetris, Newsweek, 8 Dec. 2024
Cruz has also been a thorn in the side of Democratic efforts to combat climate change, and research advocates are fearful that his chairmanship will give him an even bigger platform on those issues.
—Byjeffrey Mervis, science.org, 12 Nov. 2024
Lai, a billionaire media tycoon who had long been a thorn in the side of Beijing, was arrested in August 2020, shortly after the central Chinese government imposed a national security law that criminalizes secession, subversion, terrorism and collusion with foreign forces.
—Jennifer Jett, NBC News, 12 Nov. 2024
See all Example Sentences for a thorn in the/someone's flesh/side
Dictionary Entries Near a thorn in the/someone's flesh/side
Cite this Entry
“A thorn in the/someone's flesh/side.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/a%20thorn%20in%20the%2Fsomeone%27s%20flesh%2Fside. Accessed 7 Jan. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share