Illustration of thistle
plural thistles
1
: any of various composite (see composite entry 1 sense 1b) flowering plants (especially genera Carduus, Cirsium, and Onopordum) that have prickles on their leaves and sometimes on their stems and often have showy heads of tubular, usually purple flowers
also
: any of various other prickly plants
2
often thistle seed plural thistle seeds
: the small black seed of a tropical African herbaceous plant (Guizotia abyssinica) used especially as a source of oil and for bird feed
Examples of thistle in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Chef Attilio Galli brings a light Japanese touch to two high-concept tasting menus—one inspired by local ingredients like rabbit, thistle, and wild hay, the other grounded in traditional recipes, like the milk-and-rice stew menestra da lecc, made with a hint of spruce.
—
Hannah Walhout, Travel + Leisure, 27 Nov. 2025
The tree is also covered in wild foliage and thistle, Scotland’s national flower, a nod to Burberry’s connection to the Highlands, where its cashmere scarves are produced.
—Samantha Conti, Footwear News, 25 Nov. 2025
For many species, especially finches, thistle seed is also a good option.
—Chris McKeown, Cincinnati Enquirer, 8 Nov. 2025
The Fiskars Four-Claw Weed Puller Tool is a great option for removing stubborn dandelions and thistle without leaving you with sore knees or an achy back afterward.
—Alicia Geigel, Southern Living, 23 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for thistle
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Hannah Walhout, Travel + Leisure, 27 Nov. 2025
The tree is also covered in wild foliage and thistle, Scotland’s national flower, a nod to Burberry’s connection to the Highlands, where its cashmere scarves are produced.
—Samantha Conti, Footwear News, 25 Nov. 2025
For many species, especially finches, thistle seed is also a good option.
—Chris McKeown, Cincinnati Enquirer, 8 Nov. 2025
The Fiskars Four-Claw Weed Puller Tool is a great option for removing stubborn dandelions and thistle without leaving you with sore knees or an achy back afterward.
—Alicia Geigel, Southern Living, 23 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for thistle
Cite this Entry
“Thistle.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/thistle. Accessed 3 Dec. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
thistle
noun
this·tle
ˈthis-əl 
: any of various prickly plants related to the daisies and having often showy heads of mostly tubular flowers
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