1
2
as in difficult
requiring exceptional skill or caution in performance or handling
the candidate tried to avoid discussing his views on the thorny issue
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Examples Sentences
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.
Recent Examples of thorny
Without overplaying her hand, Adams understands that James is a proxy for the audience processing Doubt’s thorny ideas.
—
Matthew Jacobs, Vulture, 6 Dec. 2024
The presence of American politicians on the app who actively campaigned or voted for the potential ban highlights a thorny reality: Despite their claims that TikTok poses a national security risk, the app remains a primary source of media for a significant portion of their constituents.
—Kat Tenbarge, NBC News, 29 Nov. 2024
Join Our Other Game Discussions Want to be part of the conversation about New York Times Games, or maybe get some help with a particularly thorny puzzle?
—Sam Corbin, New York Times, 24 Nov. 2024
None of that is to say this thorny issue has met a neat resolution.
—Matt Slater, The Athletic, 22 Nov. 2024
See all Example Sentences for thorny 
Matthew Jacobs, Vulture, 6 Dec. 2024
The presence of American politicians on the app who actively campaigned or voted for the potential ban highlights a thorny reality: Despite their claims that TikTok poses a national security risk, the app remains a primary source of media for a significant portion of their constituents.
—Kat Tenbarge, NBC News, 29 Nov. 2024
Join Our Other Game Discussions Want to be part of the conversation about New York Times Games, or maybe get some help with a particularly thorny puzzle?
—Sam Corbin, New York Times, 24 Nov. 2024
None of that is to say this thorny issue has met a neat resolution.
—Matt Slater, The Athletic, 22 Nov. 2024
See all Example Sentences for thorny
Recent Examples of Synonyms for thorny
Adjective
-
The picture depicts a bustling market of shoppers and vendors, with a jagged line reminiscent of those on graphs winding through the stalls.Leslie Katz, Forbes, 12 Dec. 2024
-
Instead, vascular dementia began to take her down precipitously, mentally and physically, in jagged, irregular steps.Bellamy Young, Los Angeles Times, 3 Dec. 2024
Adjective
-
The day of his funeral was an incredibly difficult one for his grieving widow Barbara, their four adult children, including Kordisch Tucker, and his grandchildren.Daniel R. Depetris, Newsweek, 7 Dec. 2024
-
Weightiness in Its Black and White Cinematography Co-star Nicholas Hoult had his own experience dealing with these difficult scene partners and decided to make the best of it by having fun with some of his fellow players, including Bill Skarsgård, who plays the blood-thirsty creature Count Orlok.Harrison Richlin, IndieWire, 7 Dec. 2024
Adjective
-
Technically, capers are the flower buds of the Capparis spinosa plant, a prickly shrub commonly found bordering the Mediterranean, in places like Morocco and Greece.Kendra Vaculin, Bon Appétit, 16 Dec. 2024
-
And Chalamet rises to the challenge of capturing the prickly charisma of Dylan’s inchoate, anti-matter, read-between-the-lines personality.Owen Gleiberman, Variety, 10 Dec. 2024
Adjective
-
The clients’ storefronts are positioned to succeed in a sometimes tough marketplace by focusing on exclusivity and quality.Tyler Shepherd, USA TODAY, 12 Dec. 2024
-
In a time when people approach political, social and economic issues with a different set of information and fake news is rampant, the best way to do that is to approach tough conversations with stories rather than facts.Gordon G. Chang, Newsweek, 12 Dec. 2024
Adjective
-
His voice — raw, nasal, scratchy but full of passion, anger and wry wisdom — is near enough to the original to be unmistakable and yet colored by the actor’s persona to a degree that suggests something closer to symbiosis than impersonation.David Rooney, The Hollywood Reporter, 10 Dec. 2024
-
The aloe vera and shea butter nourish and soothe, leaving you with supple, fluffy hair rather than a scratchy feeling.Hyphensocial Contributors, Rolling Stone, 6 Dec. 2024
Adjective
-
Amphibians, including frogs and salamanders, are more vulnerable, Urban found, perhaps because their habitats are more sensitive to environmental changes.Jonathan Lambert, NPR, 7 Dec. 2024
-
Hot sauce: This won't make the final dish hot, but if anyone is sensitive, it can be skipped.Nicole Hopper, Southern Living, 7 Dec. 2024
Adjective
-
Charging in cold temperatures Charging an electric vehicle in cold weather is generally not problematic.Kurt Knutsson, CyberGuy Report, Fox News, 13 Dec. 2024
-
The legend puts the date of death in mid-August, which is problematic, since the Lions’ first game wasn’t until Oct. 2.Neal Rubin, Detroit Free Press, 12 Dec. 2024
Adjective
-
Some, like comedy kingpin Chuck Lorre, have more complicated deals that may eclipse those of the mega-earners due to back-end compensation terms for shows that perform well.Tatiana Siegel, Variety, 11 Dec. 2024
-
Many Millennials have already climbed part of the corporate ladder, which can make leaving feel riskier or more complicated for them.Arthur Zaczkiewicz, WWD, 10 Dec. 2024
Thesaurus Entries Near thorny
Cite this Entry
“Thorny.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/thorny. Accessed 22 Dec. 2024.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share