thornier; thorniest
1
: full of thorns
2
: full of difficulties or controversial points : ticklish
a thorny problem
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
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Some have risked their lives and their livelihoods to cover thorny issues affecting their home countries. David Folkenflik, NPR, 21 June 2025 Expected to go on sale in North America this fall, pricing will be a thorny issue in the era of on-again, off-again, on-again tariffs. Peter Lyon, Forbes.com, 18 June 2025 He's been played since then by Thorsten Kaye, whose Ridge is apart of another thorny romantic entanglement with Rebecca Budig's Taylor Hayes. Ryan Coleman, EW.com, 11 June 2025 Luster follows the thorny misadventures of Edie, a disaffected publishing employee who enters a somewhat kinky affair with Eric, a digital archivist living in New Jersey. Literary Hub, 10 June 2025 See All Example Sentences for thorny

Word History

First Known Use

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of thorny was before the 12th century

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Thorny.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/thorny. Accessed 28 Jun. 2025.

Kids Definition

thorny

adjective
thornier; thorniest
1
: full of or covered with thorns
thorny rose bushes
2
: full of difficulties
a thorny problem
thorniness noun

More from Merriam-Webster on thorny

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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