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
Synonyms
Examples of spiny in a Sentence
this promises to be a spiny problem to negotiate
Recent Examples on the Web
Whole crabs can be intimidating with their spiny shells and tough-to-crack exteriors.
—
Saveur Editors, Saveur, 7 Sep. 2023
Neuroscientists have long thought that antipsychotics dampen extreme dopamine transmission by sticking to receptors in a type of cell called spiny projection neurons, or SPNs.
—WIRED, 7 Aug. 2023
Each of the spiny neurons sport either D1 or D2—they’re genetically distinct.
—WIRED, 7 Aug. 2023
Smooth and spiny dogfish look almost identical save for the namesake spikes on the back of the spiny dogfish.
—Joe Cermele, Field & Stream, 26 July 2023
Cod may eventually be replaced by another species like spiny dogfish, for example.
—Globe Staff, BostonGlobe.com, 22 June 2022
Neither smooth nor spiny dogfish are particularly hard fighters, which doesn’t help their popularity status among anglers.
—Joe Cermele, Field & Stream, 26 July 2023
Jackson’s vital, spiny performance as Gudrun, a strong-willed Midland villager in love with a brawny industrialist but chafing against patriarchal control, embodied the film’s spirit of challenge and curiosity.
—Guy Lodge, Variety, 15 June 2023
The downside, however, is that those spiny papillae, which are slanted towards the back of a cat’s throat, move all that loose fur and detritus in a direction that leads inevitably to the formation of hairballs.
—Stephen C. George, Discover Magazine, 12 July 2023
See More
Saveur Editors, Saveur, 7 Sep. 2023
Neuroscientists have long thought that antipsychotics dampen extreme dopamine transmission by sticking to receptors in a type of cell called spiny projection neurons, or SPNs.
—WIRED, 7 Aug. 2023
Each of the spiny neurons sport either D1 or D2—they’re genetically distinct.
—WIRED, 7 Aug. 2023
Smooth and spiny dogfish look almost identical save for the namesake spikes on the back of the spiny dogfish.
—Joe Cermele, Field & Stream, 26 July 2023
Cod may eventually be replaced by another species like spiny dogfish, for example.
—Globe Staff, BostonGlobe.com, 22 June 2022
Neither smooth nor spiny dogfish are particularly hard fighters, which doesn’t help their popularity status among anglers.
—Joe Cermele, Field & Stream, 26 July 2023
Jackson’s vital, spiny performance as Gudrun, a strong-willed Midland villager in love with a brawny industrialist but chafing against patriarchal control, embodied the film’s spirit of challenge and curiosity.
—Guy Lodge, Variety, 15 June 2023
The downside, however, is that those spiny papillae, which are slanted towards the back of a cat’s throat, move all that loose fur and detritus in a direction that leads inevitably to the formation of hairballs.
—Stephen C. George, Discover Magazine, 12 July 2023
See More
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'spiny.' 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
1586, in the meaning defined at sense 1
Phrases Containing spiny
Dictionary Entries Near spiny
Cite this Entry
“Spiny.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/spiny. Accessed 23 Sep. 2023.
Copy Citation
More from Merriam-Webster on spiny
Love words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share