as in difficult
requiring exceptional skill or caution in performance or handling
this promises to be a spiny problem to negotiate
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of spiny
In addition to serving as a living mulch, the spiny hairs on squash leaves are thought to deter raccoons from stealing your sweet corn.
—
Kim Toscano, Southern Living, 4 Apr. 2025
The spiny dogfish’s gestation period lasts about two years.
—Joshua Rapp Learn, Discover Magazine, 27 Mar. 2025
The tuatara of New Zealand, a spiny reptilian relic, can outlive generations of researchers studying it.
—Scott Travers, Forbes.com, 29 Mar. 2025
Though these prawns have spiny shells that are difficult to peel, the meat has a sweet taste like lobster, making this entree one of the eatery’s main attractions.
—Patrick Connolly, Orlando Sentinel, 21 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for spiny
Kim Toscano, Southern Living, 4 Apr. 2025
The spiny dogfish’s gestation period lasts about two years.
—Joshua Rapp Learn, Discover Magazine, 27 Mar. 2025
The tuatara of New Zealand, a spiny reptilian relic, can outlive generations of researchers studying it.
—Scott Travers, Forbes.com, 29 Mar. 2025
Though these prawns have spiny shells that are difficult to peel, the meat has a sweet taste like lobster, making this entree one of the eatery’s main attractions.
—Patrick Connolly, Orlando Sentinel, 21 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for spiny
Recent Examples of Synonyms for spiny
Adjective
-
No matter how sweet, the little crocodile grows bigger and more difficult to care for.—
Leo Barraclough,
Variety,
10 June 2025
-
Despite her risky gambit, Metcalfe, who is studying to be an attorney at the University of Law in Manchester, England, admits that her sport has helped her through some of the most difficult times of her life.—
Andy Frye,
Forbes.com,
10 June 2025
Adjective
-
The vote took place against an increasingly violent backlash to the Trump administration's tough immigration policies.—
Adeola Adeosun,
MSNBC Newsweek,
15 June 2025
-
In Mind For startups, achieving more with less can be tough.—
John Hall,
Forbes.com,
15 June 2025
Adjective
-
Amino acids are more easily absorbed than proteins and do not damage the intestinal environment, which means even those with sensitive digestions can take them.—
MISAKI KAWATSU,
Vogue,
10 June 2025
-
This principle, applied across all workloads, is instrumental for reducing the risk of unauthorized access to sensitive data.—
Ben Blanquera,
Forbes.com,
10 June 2025
Adjective
-
Several things may cause dark black spots on the tongue, including a benign condition called hairy tongue, some medications, and some health conditions.—
Wendy Wisner,
Health,
8 June 2025
-
Enjoy some hairy onboard footage as this alien spaceship of a sailboat records the second-fastest speed in history.—
New Atlas,
New Atlas,
4 June 2025
Adjective
-
With their sticky bodies, hammerhead worms may get stuck to pet fur, but the worms will not irritate their skin, Morgan-Olvera added.—
Greta Cross,
USA Today,
14 June 2025
-
Leave out the nasty heat and sticky humidity with an air conditioner that will work in a tent.—
BestReviews,
Mercury News,
12 June 2025
Adjective
-
These include infidelities, unspoken longings, and thorny questions of land inheritance.—
The New Yorker,
New Yorker,
2 June 2025
-
And the durable, water-repellent, quick-dry fabric has thus far shrugged off light snowfall, summer squalls, poison ivy, and even thorny underbrush.—
The Editors,
Outside Online,
30 May 2025
Adjective
-
The comment was in answer to how Friends, in its second resurgence in the streaming era, was receiving some criticism for some of its problematic elements, i.e. the lack of diversity, homophobia, sexism, etc.—
Stephanie Sengwe,
People.com,
7 June 2025
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All signs point to some problematic visitors heading to Wellsbury in season 4.—
EW.com,
EW.com,
6 June 2025
Adjective
-
At the apotheosis of technical wizardry, Vacheron Constantin debuted the most complicated wristwatch in the world, the Les Cabinotiers Solaria Ultra Grand Complication-La Première.—
Paige Reddinger,
Robb Report,
15 June 2025
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This is a complicated situation for the Wolves to navigate.—
Jon Krawczynski,
New York Times,
14 June 2025
Cite this Entry
“Spiny.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/spiny. Accessed 19 Jun. 2025.
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