spiny

[spahy-nee]

adjective

spinier, spiniest 

1. abounding in or having spines; thorny, as a plant.

2. covered with or having sharp-pointed processes, as an animal.

3. in the form of a spine; resembling a spine; spinelike.

4. troublesome or difficult to handle; thorny.

   a spiny problem.

spiny

/ ˈspaɪnɪ /

adjective

1. (of animals) having or covered with quills or spines

2. (of plants) covered with spines; thorny

3. troublesome to handle; puzzling

4. shaped like a spine

Other Word Forms

• spininess noun
• nonspiny adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of spiny¹

First recorded in 1580–90; spine + -y ¹

Example Sentences

From tree stumps and rocks, the spiny reptiles basked and watched as wooden fences subdivided the landscape.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

On California’s North Coast, where other urchin nemeses — like otters, spiny lobsters and sheephead — are lacking, 96% of the region’s kelp forests vanished in the decade following the sea star collapse.

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Two Southern California men were fined in excess of $60,000 each and had their fishing licenses permanently revoked for poaching abalone and spiny lobsters off the coast of Catalina Island.

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Scientists discovered a new species of spiny mouse - named after the especially stiff guard hairs found on their coats, which function similar to the spines of a hedgehog.

Read more on BBC

“Then make sure to cool it immediately to prevent holdover temperature from overcooking the spiny little beast!”

Read more on Salon