thorn
noun
a sharp excrescence on a plant, especially a sharp-pointed aborted branch; spine; prickle.
thorns
-
pluralof thorn.plural
The grammatical form denoting more than one person, place, thing, or idea.
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.
A hawthorn is a shrub, often used in hedges, whose sharp thorns catch on intruders’ clothes or skin.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Apr. 21, 2026
“By Design” cleverly drapes its thematic thorns in ornate production design and costuming, making its emotional impact all the more deceptive.
From Salon ● Feb. 18, 2026
You’re taking a promenade in a rose garden filled with thorns — forgive my “Bridgerton” evocation.
From MarketWatch ● Jan. 6, 2026
Its poisonous thorns also injure livestock, leaving them too weak to roam for food, he added.
From Barron's ● Nov. 12, 2025
With threads of grass, he wove mats for his floor, and curtains for his windows to keep out drafts, and he tacked these curtains up with thorns.
From "Abel's Island" by William Steig
