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 While the cactus makes a beautiful natural ornament in the Phoenix area, the wild plant also provides nutritional benefits from its fruits and spiny pads. Katrina Michalak, The Arizona Republic, 14 Feb. 2024 Useful tip: Pumpkinseeds and other members of the sunfish family (bluegill, crappie and bass) have a spiny dorsal fin that can deliver a painful spike to unsuspecting anglers. Jordan Rodriguez, Idaho Statesman, 31 Jan. 2024 African spiny mice are small to medium sized rodents with spiny hairs on their upper body, large eyes and ears, and scaly tails. Laura Baisas, Popular Science, 24 May 2023 The mollusk shells, called Spondylus shells, come from a spiny oyster that Maya royalty used as currency and jewelry—and even included in sacrificial rituals. Julia Binswanger, Smithsonian Magazine, 2 Feb. 2024 Victoria Beckham Answers Your Burning Beauty Questions Getty Images The style paired perfectly with her over-the-top ensemble: a black turtleneck with spiny knots down the arms, and a satiny, black, floor-length skirt that didn't have a train so much as a tail. Marci Robin, Allure, 22 Jan. 2024 The spiny bush viper is an incredibly venomous snake that can be found nestled in the flowers of trees in the forests of Central Africa. Donna Sarkar, Discover Magazine, 27 Oct. 2022 For the second time in three years, a rare and otherworldly-looking black anglerfish was found at Newport Beach’s Crystal Cove State Park, showing up on Friday the 13th with its gaping mouth, jagged, translucent teeth and spiny dorsal fin. Andrew J. Campa, Los Angeles Times, 21 Oct. 2023 Assassin caterpillars carry their potent venom inside of spiny protrusions. Elizabeth Gamillo, Discover Magazine, 2 Oct. 2023

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

Time Traveler
The first known use of spiny was in 1586

Dictionary Entries Near spiny

Cite this Entry

“Spiny.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/spiny. Accessed 19 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

spiny

adjective
spinier; spiniest
1
: full of difficulties, obstacles, or problems : thorny
2
: having or covered with spines, thorns, or prickles
spininess noun

More from Merriam-Webster on spiny

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