spiny

American  

[spahy-nee] / ˈspaɪ ni /

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.

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spiny British  

/ 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

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Other Word Forms

• spininess
  noun
• nonspiny
  adjective

Etymology

Origin of spiny

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

Explanation

Spiny things are prickly or barbed, like a porcupine or a cactus. You have to be careful when you pick up something spiny. There are many spiny plants and animals, including roses, fish with spiny fins, sea urchins, and hedgehogs. They're all spiny for the same reason—as a defense against predators. The barbs or thorns themselves are called spines, from the Latin spina, meaning "backbone" and also "thorn or prickle." You can also use spiny figuratively to describe something difficult to deal with: "It was a spiny problem indeed."

Example Sentences

Spiny and slipper lobsters, particularly targeted to supply more tourist-intensive islands, were also considered depleted.

From Science Daily • Nov. 16, 2024

Spiny dogfish, another threatened shark species—officially termed “vulnerable” by the IUCN—was detected in almost 90 percent of the fried fish sampled at dozens of fish-and-chip shops in the United Kingdom.

From National Geographic • Jul. 17, 2023

There are so many animals with cool names out there—Alpacas, Hellbenders, Goblin Sharks, and Spiny Lumpsuckers are a few that come to mind.

From Slate • Aug. 17, 2021

Spiny lobsters stuffed with dasheen, a root vegetable similar to taro; braised conch with onions, peppers and garlic; and my personal favorite, stuffed trunkfish.

From Washington Post • Jan. 29, 2015

“Bad Moose. Bad, bad, bad. American Spiny Rat, page 188.”

From "Al Capone Does My Shirts" by Gennifer Choldenko