often attributive
1
2
: a woody plant bearing sharp impeding processes (such as prickles or spines)
especially
: hawthorn
3
: something that causes distress or irritation
—often used in the phrase thorn in one's side
4
: the runic letter þ used in Old English and Middle English to represent either of the fricatives \th\ or \t͟h\ and in Icelandic to represent \th\
Synonyms
Examples of thorn in a Sentence
your constant questions are a thorn in my side
Recent Examples on the Web
What to Consider Be careful not to catch on any thorns or branches as these joggers may be susceptible to rips.
—
Joel Balsam Published, Travel + Leisure, 21 May 2024
For now, the housing market's affordability crisis is a major thorn in the side of Fed Chair Jerome Powell, who continues to remain optimistic that rents will eventually come down.
—Khristopher J. Brooks, CBS News, 8 May 2024
But experience has shown that whoever takes over the executive branch, regardless of political affiliation, is likely to become a thorn in the IRGC’s side—even former President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, who came in with the organization’s full backing, soon enough went rogue.
—Ali Reza Eshraghi, Foreign Affairs, 27 Aug. 2020
Life’s Too Short, which is available in stores and online now, lays bare the roses and thorns on his road to stardom, from singing in his mother’s kitchen to being the frontman of Hootie and the Blowfish to achieving his lifelong dream of becoming a bonafide country artist.
—Allaire Nuss, EW.com, 28 May 2024
See all Example Sentences for thorn 
Joel Balsam Published, Travel + Leisure, 21 May 2024
For now, the housing market's affordability crisis is a major thorn in the side of Fed Chair Jerome Powell, who continues to remain optimistic that rents will eventually come down.
—Khristopher J. Brooks, CBS News, 8 May 2024
But experience has shown that whoever takes over the executive branch, regardless of political affiliation, is likely to become a thorn in the IRGC’s side—even former President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, who came in with the organization’s full backing, soon enough went rogue.
—Ali Reza Eshraghi, Foreign Affairs, 27 Aug. 2020
Life’s Too Short, which is available in stores and online now, lays bare the roses and thorns on his road to stardom, from singing in his mother’s kitchen to being the frontman of Hootie and the Blowfish to achieving his lifelong dream of becoming a bonafide country artist.
—Allaire Nuss, EW.com, 28 May 2024
See all Example Sentences for thorn
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'thorn.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
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Cite this Entry
“Thorn.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/thorn. Accessed 16 Jun. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
thorn
noun1
: a woody plant bearing sharp processes (as prickles or spines)
especially
: hawthorn
2
: a sharp stiff process on a plant
especially
: a stem modified into a short, stiff, and leafless sharp point
3
: something or someone that causes distress or irritation
—often used in the phrase thorn in one's side
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