thornier; thorniest
Synonyms of thornynext
1
: full of thorns
2
: full of difficulties or controversial points : ticklish
a thorny problem
thorniness noun

Examples of thorny in a Sentence

stay out of the thorny brambles unless you want a ton of scratches
Recent Examples on the Web
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Though there is much in the circumstance that merits applause, the mainstay of the effort was not to provide a positive mathematical proof per se, but instead to discover a counterexample that undercuts a prevailing conjecture regarding the solution to the thorny problem. Lance Eliot, Forbes.com, 26 May 2026 Pass over Brzezinski, and ownership will push the chips in on a bet similar to the hire of Kwesi Adofo-Mensah, where an executive enters a building with many thorny dynamics. Alec Lewis, New York Times, 22 May 2026 Other potentially thorny negotiations are ahead, including the agreement with LA28 about reimbursement to the city for enhanced resources, such as the costs incurred for extra police, sanitation and other city services needed for the Olympics. The Editorial Board, Daily News, 20 May 2026 The more urgent and thornier question is which version of AI Hollywood is actually talking about — and whether the industry has the sophistication, or the will, to tell the difference. Scott Roxborough, HollywoodReporter, 19 May 2026 See All Example Sentences for thorny

Word History

First Known Use

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of thorny was before the 12th century

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Cite this Entry

“Thorny.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/thorny. Accessed 31 May. 2026.

Kids Definition

thorny

adjective
thornier; thorniest
1
: full of or covered with thorns
thorny rose bushes
2
: full of difficulties
a thorny problem
thorniness noun

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