thorny

thorny

adjective

Definition of THORNY

1

having leaves or branches which are likely to cause a scratch <stay out of the thorny brambles unless you want a ton of scratches>

Synonyms brambly, prickly, thistly, thorny

Related Words burred; bristly, coarse, jagged, rough

2

requiring exceptional skill or caution in performance or handling <the candidate tried to avoid discussing his views on the thorny issue of abortion>

Synonyms catchy, delicate, difficult, dodgy [chiefly British], hairy, knotty, nasty, prickly, problematic (also problematical), sensitive, spiny, sticky, thorny, ticklish, touchy, tough, tricksy

Related Words abstract, abstruse, complex, complicated, hard, intricate, involved, recondite, serious; problem, scabrous, stubborn, troublesome, troublous, vexatious, vexing, worrisome; burdensome, demanding, discommoding, exacting, exhausting, importunate, inconvenient, onerous, oppressive, painful, stressful

Near Antonyms easy, effortless, manageable, painless, simple, straightforward, uncomplicated, undemanding, unproblematic