thorny
adjective
abounding in or characterized by thorns; spiny; prickly.
thorniest
-
superlativeof thorny.superlative
The form of an adjective or adverb indicating the greatest degree of a quality.
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.
But negotiations on some of the thorniest issues - including Iran's nuclear programme - will be deferred for 60 days, raising questions about how long this agreement will last.
From BBC ● Jun. 18, 2026
One of the thorniest retirement decisions is choosing where to live.
From MarketWatch ● Apr. 10, 2026
Unions say the measure would give them needed leverage and remove political pressure from the thorniest contract questions.
From Los Angeles Times ● Feb. 11, 2026
Moreover, one of the thorniest challenges with the agency’s data collection was in a category that makes up a huge portion of the price index: housing.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Dec. 18, 2025
The Reagan had run afoul of nuclear power’s thorniest problem: radioactive isotopes.
From "Meltdown" by Deirdre Langeland
