spinier; spiniest
1
: abounding with difficulties, obstacles, or annoyances : thorny
spiny problems
2
: covered or armed with spines
broadly
: bearing spines, prickles, or thorns
3
: slender and pointed like a spine
spininess
noun
Examples of spiny in a Sentence
this promises to be a spiny problem to negotiate
Recent Examples on the Web
The spiny creatures are massive grazers of kelp forests, which are crucial members of marine ecosystems, Gehman says.
—
Andrea Tamayo, Scientific American, 5 Aug. 2025
The five most common are the sandbar shark, bull shark, sand tiger shark, smooth dogfish and spiny dogfish.
—Irit Skulnik, Baltimore Sun, 22 July 2025
The Caribbean lobster that lives in the waters off of Anegada are spiny, lack claws and are smaller than their Maine counterparts.
—Caitlin Palumbo, Forbes.com, 10 July 2025
Specific receptors on medium spiny neurons are common targets for medications that are sometimes used to help treat OCD.
—Carol Mathews, The Conversation, 13 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for spiny
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Andrea Tamayo, Scientific American, 5 Aug. 2025
The five most common are the sandbar shark, bull shark, sand tiger shark, smooth dogfish and spiny dogfish.
—Irit Skulnik, Baltimore Sun, 22 July 2025
The Caribbean lobster that lives in the waters off of Anegada are spiny, lack claws and are smaller than their Maine counterparts.
—Caitlin Palumbo, Forbes.com, 10 July 2025
Specific receptors on medium spiny neurons are common targets for medications that are sometimes used to help treat OCD.
—Carol Mathews, The Conversation, 13 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for spiny
Cite this Entry
“Spiny.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/spiny. Accessed 20 Aug. 2025.
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