Canada thistle
noun
: a European thistle (Cirsium arvense) with pinkish-purple or white flowers naturalized as a weed in North America
Examples of Canada thistle in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Unlike many other perennial weeds, dandelions don’t spread vegetatively, that is, by creeping along the ground like blackberry vines, or spreading underground by the root like Canada thistle.
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oregonlive, 19 Apr. 2022
In addition, the State of Wisconsin also defined three plants to be noxious weeds in the 1970s, including Canada thistle, leafy spurge and field bindweed.
—Jennifer Rude Klett, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, 16 Sep. 2021
Also prevalent are Callery pear, better known as the Bradford pear, wintercreeper, Canada thistle, garlic mustard, burning bush, multiflora rose, autumn olive, Japanese honeysuckle and Japanese knotweed.
—John Tuohy, The Indianapolis Star, 9 Nov. 2020
oregonlive, 19 Apr. 2022
In addition, the State of Wisconsin also defined three plants to be noxious weeds in the 1970s, including Canada thistle, leafy spurge and field bindweed.
—Jennifer Rude Klett, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, 16 Sep. 2021
Also prevalent are Callery pear, better known as the Bradford pear, wintercreeper, Canada thistle, garlic mustard, burning bush, multiflora rose, autumn olive, Japanese honeysuckle and Japanese knotweed.
—John Tuohy, The Indianapolis Star, 9 Nov. 2020
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'Canada thistle.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Word History
First Known Use
1796, in the meaning defined above
Dictionary Entries Near Canada thistle
Cite this Entry
“Canada thistle.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/Canada%20thistle. Accessed 9 Dec. 2023.
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