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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
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of thorny
Who exactly is going to be part of DOGE is a particularly thorny issue, because there are technically two DOGEs.
—
Vittoria Elliott, WIRED, 24 Jan. 2025
Kevin Lamarque | Reuters As U.S. President Donald Trump looks to immediately fix his greatest political and economic bugbears, the thorny issue of NATO defense spending is likely to quickly return to the global fore.
—Holly Ellyatt, CNBC, 23 Jan. 2025
But a network of colleagues within the same domain with a broad array of experiences and expertise can deepen learning and unlock solutions to thorny problems.
—Ann Kowal Smith, Forbes, 23 Jan. 2025
On thorny issues, Rubio stressed that Trump would dictate the policies while offering hints at the direction the Republicans would go.
—Francesca Chambers, USA TODAY, 21 Jan. 2025
See all Example Sentences for thorny 
Vittoria Elliott, WIRED, 24 Jan. 2025
Kevin Lamarque | Reuters As U.S. President Donald Trump looks to immediately fix his greatest political and economic bugbears, the thorny issue of NATO defense spending is likely to quickly return to the global fore.
—Holly Ellyatt, CNBC, 23 Jan. 2025
But a network of colleagues within the same domain with a broad array of experiences and expertise can deepen learning and unlock solutions to thorny problems.
—Ann Kowal Smith, Forbes, 23 Jan. 2025
On thorny issues, Rubio stressed that Trump would dictate the policies while offering hints at the direction the Republicans would go.
—Francesca Chambers, USA TODAY, 21 Jan. 2025
See all Example Sentences for thorny
Recent Examples of Synonyms for thorny
Adjective
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Two hours later, a second piece of the plane was pulled out –– a jagged portion of the fuselage not immediately identifiable.—
Karina Tsui,
CNN,
4 Feb. 2025
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For glam, the mom of three, 32, wore an old Hollywood-style bob with curls, brown-tone makeup and a long nails with jagged black French tips.—
Charlotte Phillipp,
People.com,
3 Feb. 2025
Adjective
-
An aviation expert, along with the Army pilot, tells PEOPLE that Reagan National Airport can be especially difficult to fly into.—
Samira Asma-Sadeque,
People.com,
30 Jan. 2025
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Challenges of an Airline Pilot's Lifestyle Beyond the technical demands of the job, Wallach said the most difficult part of being a pilot was the lifestyle—particularly as a single parent.—
Thomas G. Moukawsher,
Newsweek,
30 Jan. 2025
Adjective
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Camille Cottin is a standout as prickly, voluble talent agent Andréa Martel, but the whole cast intermingles with enough chemistry and charm to make this one of the best workplace comedies of the last decade.—
Taylor Antrim,
Vogue,
31 Jan. 2025
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Old news, perhaps, but among Bayern’s transfer targets is — inevitably — Wirtz, which would involve a prickly negotiation.—
The Athletic UK Staff,
The Athletic,
24 Jan. 2025
Adjective
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But fortunately for the Jayhawks, this game is at Allen Fieldhouse — a tough place for away teams to come and win games.—
Shreyas Laddha,
Kansas City Star,
3 Feb. 2025
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Strings — and the fact the Nampa show happens May 20, before Idaho temperatures boil — makes this music lineup tough to resist.—
Michael Deeds,
Idaho Statesman,
3 Feb. 2025
Adjective
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Other symptoms include a scratchy feeling in the eye and eye redness.—
Laura Schober,
Health,
29 Jan. 2025
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His output is alluded to in the film’s atmospheric credit sequence, in which a restless, scratchy charcoal pencil attacks white paper, the claustrophobia of which is intensified by the director’s intimate use of Academy ratio.—
Damon Wise,
Deadline,
25 Jan. 2025
Adjective
-
Young people are particularly sensitive to their surroundings as their brains evaluate the environment to prepare them for independence.—
Yalda T. Uhls,
The Conversation,
30 Jan. 2025
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Unlike phishing campaigns targeting the entire workforce, red team exercises often involve precise objectives or trophies, such as gaining access to a critical system or sensitive data.—
Lauren Carpenter,
USA TODAY,
30 Jan. 2025
Adjective
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The post, which features an image of the problematic homework question, has been upvoted more than 27,000 times on the platform.—
Kristan Hawkins,
Newsweek,
7 Feb. 2025
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Experts warn that deep spending cuts could prove problematic, given that about two-thirds of government spending is directed toward Social Security, Medicare, national defense and Medicaid.—
Aimee Picchi,
CBS News,
7 Feb. 2025
Adjective
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What is not complicated or open to conjecture is that Miami’s defense would be better with Garrett than without him.—
Greg Cote,
Miami Herald,
3 Feb. 2025
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Its history over the decades since, however, has been more complicated.—
Jamie Kalven,
Chicago Tribune,
2 Feb. 2025
Thesaurus Entries Near thorny
Cite this Entry
“Thorny.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/thorny. Accessed 13 Feb. 2025.
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