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
Like all other non-native thistles, it should be pulled as soon as possible, not only to remove the ouch factor from your yard, but also to prevent the plants from developing a giant root system and spreading by root and seeds.
—
Andy Wilcox, Better Homes & Gardens, 27 Aug. 2025
The district remains a throwback to the old days, much like the ancient thistle districts and thistle commissioners who were once found across Lake County in an attempt to stomp out the noxious weeds from farmlands and roadside ditches.
—Charles Selle, Chicago Tribune, 25 Aug. 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 afterwards.
—Alicia Geigel, Southern Living, 21 May 2025
Feeding the birds: Nyjer seed, also known as thistle seed, is a must for attracting colorful finches.
—Brayden Garcia, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 13 Apr. 2025
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Andy Wilcox, Better Homes & Gardens, 27 Aug. 2025
The district remains a throwback to the old days, much like the ancient thistle districts and thistle commissioners who were once found across Lake County in an attempt to stomp out the noxious weeds from farmlands and roadside ditches.
—Charles Selle, Chicago Tribune, 25 Aug. 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 afterwards.
—Alicia Geigel, Southern Living, 21 May 2025
Feeding the birds: Nyjer seed, also known as thistle seed, is a must for attracting colorful finches.
—Brayden Garcia, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 13 Apr. 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 16 Sep. 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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