thorny

[thawr-nee]

adjective

thornier, thorniest 

1. abounding in or characterized by thorns; spiny; prickly.

2. thornlike.

3. overgrown with thorns or brambles.

4. painful; vexatious.

   a thorny predicament.

5. full of difficulties, complexities, or controversial points.

   a thorny question.

   Synonyms: ticklish, sticky, tough

thorny

/ ˈθɔːnɪ /

adjective

1. bearing or covered with thorns

2. difficult or unpleasant

   a thorny problem

3. sharp

Other Word Forms

• thornily adverb
• thorniness noun
• unthorny adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of thorny¹

before 1000; Middle English; Old English thornig. See thorn, -y ¹

Example Sentences

The announcements did not cover some thorny issues both sides have not reached a resolution on.

Read more on BBC

And its success kicks up thornier questions for Netanyahu, a deeply unpopular leader with many Israelis and whose critics accuse of prolonging the war to guarantee his political survival at the expense of hostages’ lives.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

Check out The Moneyist’s private Facebook group, where members help answer life’s thorniest money issues.

Read more on MarketWatch

Check out the Moneyist private Facebook group, where we look for answers to life’s thorniest money issues.

Read more on MarketWatch

Check out the Moneyist private Facebook group, where we look for answers to life’s thorniest money issues.

Read more on MarketWatch

Related Words

• awkward 
• bothersome 
• irksome 
• nettlesome 
• perplexing 
• prickly 
• sticky 
• ticklish 
• tricky 
• troublesome 
• unpleasant