knotty

American  

[not-ee] / ˈnɒt i /

adjective

knottier, knottiest

1. having knots; knot; full of knots: knot.

   a knotty piece of wood.

2. involved, intricate, or difficult.

   a knotty problem.

   Synonyms:

   complicated, complex

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knotty British  

/ ˈnɒtɪ /

adjective

1. (of wood, rope, etc) full of or characterized by knots

2. extremely difficult or intricate

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Other Word Forms

• knottily adverb
• knottiness noun
• unknotty adjective

Etymology

Origin of knotty

First recorded in 1200–50, knotty is from the Middle English word cnotti. See knot ¹, -y ¹

Example Sentences

Of course, as with any knotty academic question, there are anomalies.

From BBC

Questions around pediatric use, Ms. Donnellan recognizes, are knotty: How do we balance the “significant health damage” caused by excess weight in childhood with the risks of committing children to long-term drug therapy?

From The Wall Street Journal

But she’s a reluctant sleuth in a knotty case with a head full of noise and a shaky hand on the lighter.

From The Wall Street Journal

It’s the latest in a series of knotty characters embraced by Arquette, 57.

From The Wall Street Journal

Listen to his tightly harmonized vocals in “Send It On” or to the gorgeously murky electric piano in “One Mo’Gin” or to the knotty percussive crosstalk in “Sugah Daddy.”

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• complicated
• mystifying
• perplexing
• puzzling
• sticky
• thorny
• tricky