knotty
Americanadjective
-
a knotty piece of wood.
-
involved, intricate, or difficult.
a knotty problem.
- Synonyms:
- complicated, complex
adjective
-
(of wood, rope, etc) full of or characterized by knots
-
extremely difficult or intricate
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of knotty
First recorded in 1200–50, knotty is from the Middle English word cnotti. See knot 1, -y 1
Explanation
Whether it’s pine or problems, sometimes the word knotty can apply to both. Knotty can describe something that has a lot of knots, either literally or figuratively. The adjective knotty is a way to describe something that’s covered in knots. It can be used in a literal sense to refer to wood that is covered in hard, irregular knots — you’ve probably seen these circular, knobby imperfections that sometime appear on wood. The word can also be used figuratively to describe something that is intricate and difficult to solve, such as a knotty political problem involving two warring nations or a knotty legal issue involving complicated constitutional issues.
Vocabulary lists containing knotty
100 SAT Words Beginning with "J," "K," and "L"
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The BFG
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"Deep Survival" by Laurence Gonzales
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Knotty wood paneling punctuates the soaring brick walls, and amber votives cast a warm glow.
From Washington Post • Feb. 20, 2023
The two seniors are selected to partake in a weeklong academic session over winter break at Knotty Pines, a secluded educational institute.
From New York Times • Feb. 14, 2020
Sir Paul McCartney, David Walliams, Sandi Toksvig and Pam Ayres were among many celebrities to pay tribute to the self-styled Squire of Knotty Ash.
From BBC • Mar. 17, 2018
Knotty Fun at the Joint Math Meetings Mathematicians attempting to untangle a human knot at a knot "flash mob" on January 11, 2013 at the Joint Mathematics Meetings.
From Scientific American • Jan. 12, 2013
He cleaveth Knotty Wood with a Wedge, 7. which he forceth in with a Beetle, 8. and maketh Wood-stacks, 9.
From The Orbis Pictus by Hoole, Charles
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
