as in difficult
requiring exceptional skill or caution in performance or handling
this promises to be a spiny problem to negotiate
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Examples Sentences
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Recent Examples of spiny
These spiny mammals are members of the Erinaceidae family and date back approximately 15 million years ago.
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Allison Futterman, Discover Magazine, 6 Nov. 2024
Generally, deer don’t prefer plants that are fuzzy, highly aromatic, spiny, or spiky.
—Arricca Elin Sansone, Southern Living, 2 Nov. 2024
These women are tough and spiny too, given to raucous songs, laughter and the occasional squabble.
—Dennis Harvey, Variety, 7 Oct. 2024
Many predators have specialized digestive systems that can handle tough or spiny prey, with powerful stomach acids or enzymes that can break down spines or other tough structures.
—Melissa Cristina Marquez, Forbes, 28 Sep. 2024
See all Example Sentences for spiny 
Allison Futterman, Discover Magazine, 6 Nov. 2024
Generally, deer don’t prefer plants that are fuzzy, highly aromatic, spiny, or spiky.
—Arricca Elin Sansone, Southern Living, 2 Nov. 2024
These women are tough and spiny too, given to raucous songs, laughter and the occasional squabble.
—Dennis Harvey, Variety, 7 Oct. 2024
Many predators have specialized digestive systems that can handle tough or spiny prey, with powerful stomach acids or enzymes that can break down spines or other tough structures.
—Melissa Cristina Marquez, Forbes, 28 Sep. 2024
See all Example Sentences for spiny
Recent Examples of Synonyms for spiny
Adjective
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An at least 200-year-old celebration of French and Mediterranean cuisine, macarons are renowned as the ‘impossible dessert,’ a result of the notoriously involved and difficult baking process.Chris Gallagher, USA TODAY, 20 Dec. 2024
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The manual entry of damage to structures like bridges used to be very expensive and time-consuming, a complex process made even more difficult by the fact that data entry and analysis are performed by both the agency’s own staff and external companies.Stephanie Glenk, Forbes, 19 Dec. 2024
Adjective
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Carro, known for his tough stance on crime and his experience with cases involving terrorism enhancements, will play a key role in shaping the trial's proceedings.Hannah Parry, Newsweek, 24 Dec. 2024
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In December, the West Central Montana Avalanche Center made the tough decision to no longer send avalanche experts to Seeley Lake to test the snowpack.Frederick Dreier, Outside Online, 23 Dec. 2024
Adjective
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What to Know Since mid-November, reports of drones have surfaced in northeastern states including New Jersey, New York, and Pennsylvania, some near sensitive locations like military bases.Benedict Cosgrove, Newsweek, 19 Dec. 2024
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Other sensitive spots that passengers—especially folks over age 50—might not think about are the knees and ankles, reports Manhattan dermatologist Dr. Janet Prystowsky.Sara Button, AFAR Media, 19 Dec. 2024
Adjective
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The TikTok trends that coined wacky new terms, the brand scandals that got everyone checking their lot numbers, the most memorable celebrity makeup moments—this is your final exam on 2024’s hairiest, happiest, and most helpful beauty stories.Marci Robin, Allure, 19 Dec. 2024
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In a heartbreaking moment, Driggs lifts his hairy little arms up to his human, beseeching him to take him back.Erin Qualey, Vulture, 21 Aug. 2024
Adjective
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Its juicy cheeseburgers and sweet, sticky Hershey's brand milkshakes and sundaes were the stuff of daydreams.Catherine Jessee, Southern Living, 22 Dec. 2024
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The dough should be sticky, which makes great sufganiyot!Christine Rousselle, Fox News, 21 Dec. 2024
Adjective
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What message to place inside the empathy machine of cinema has become a thorny issue in India.Thomas Page, CNN, 15 Dec. 2024
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The small Humboldt County city is contending with several thorny issues, including the possible construction of its first affordable housing development.Daniel Miller, Los Angeles Times, 13 Dec. 2024
Adjective
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There were several factors that contributed to this including complicated program rules that were poorly communicated to borrowers, as well as problematic loan servicing, inadequate record-keeping, and poor oversight by the Education Department.Adam S. Minsky, Forbes, 26 Dec. 2024
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The surrealist, comedic drama stars Torres and Tilda Swinton as an aspiring toymaker and an eccentric art critic who find problematic soulmates in each other.Elaina Patton, NBC News, 26 Dec. 2024
Adjective
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Explaining the complicated financing behind East Bank redevelopment project was an important city government story from this past year.Adam Tamburin, Axios, 23 Dec. 2024
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But putting a price tag on the content used to train AI models is a daunting and complicated task.Rashi Shrivastava, Forbes, 23 Dec. 2024
Thesaurus Entries Near spiny
Cite this Entry
“Spiny.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/spiny. Accessed 31 Dec. 2024.
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