thornier; thorniest
thorniness
noun
Examples of thorny in a Sentence
stay out of the thorny brambles unless you want a ton of scratches
Recent Examples on the Web
This is a very thorny path forward for the Vikings over the next month.
—
Alec Lewis, New York Times, 1 Nov. 2025
Decisions made in Gyeongju are non-binding — and leaders have faced difficulty reaching consensus in the past including on thorny issues like Russia’s war in Ukraine.
—Helen Regan, CNN Money, 31 Oct. 2025
Her first — and arguably favorite — prime minister, Winston Churchill, took it upon himself to help mentor the Queen and also read her mood and responses to a thorny issue.
—Simon Perry, PEOPLE, 29 Oct. 2025
Those thorny questions rest at the center of Carlile’s remarkable eighth solo studio album, Returning to Myself (out today via Interscope Records/Lost Highway).
—Stephen Daw, Billboard, 24 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for thorny
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Alec Lewis, New York Times, 1 Nov. 2025
Decisions made in Gyeongju are non-binding — and leaders have faced difficulty reaching consensus in the past including on thorny issues like Russia’s war in Ukraine.
—Helen Regan, CNN Money, 31 Oct. 2025
Her first — and arguably favorite — prime minister, Winston Churchill, took it upon himself to help mentor the Queen and also read her mood and responses to a thorny issue.
—Simon Perry, PEOPLE, 29 Oct. 2025
Those thorny questions rest at the center of Carlile’s remarkable eighth solo studio album, Returning to Myself (out today via Interscope Records/Lost Highway).
—Stephen Daw, Billboard, 24 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for thorny
Cite this Entry
“Thorny.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/thorny. Accessed 5 Nov. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
thorny
adjective
thornier; thorniest
1
: full of or covered with thorns
thorny rose bushes
2
: full of difficulties
a thorny problem
thorniness
noun
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