often attributive
1
2
: a woody plant bearing sharp impeding processes (such as prickles or spines)
especially
: hawthorn
3
: something that causes distress or irritation
—often used in the phrase thorn in one's side
4
: the runic letter þ used in Old English and Middle English to represent either of the fricatives \th\ or \t͟h\ and in Icelandic to represent \th\
Examples of thorn in a Sentence
your constant questions are a thorn in my side
Recent Examples on the Web
The early part of the season indicated Arizona would indeed be a thorn in the side of the Dodgers and one of the best teams in the NL.
—
Andrew Wright, MSNBC Newsweek, 4 June 2025
But one Democratic strategist said Emanuel’s record — particularly as mayor of Chicago — could be a thorn in his side.
—Amie Parnes, The Hill, 30 May 2025
The law has been a thorn in the side of the Trump administration’s campaign to ramp up deportations, which the president has cast as an effort to rid the country of criminals despite also targeting immigrants with no prior convictions.
—Taryn Luna, Los Angeles Times, 30 May 2025
As Trump’s top second-term legislative priority remained in limbo, the courts once again were a thorn in his side on what to him may be his most important policy objective of all: his big, beautiful tariffs.
—W. James Antle Iii, The Washington Examiner, 29 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for thorn
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Andrew Wright, MSNBC Newsweek, 4 June 2025
But one Democratic strategist said Emanuel’s record — particularly as mayor of Chicago — could be a thorn in his side.
—Amie Parnes, The Hill, 30 May 2025
The law has been a thorn in the side of the Trump administration’s campaign to ramp up deportations, which the president has cast as an effort to rid the country of criminals despite also targeting immigrants with no prior convictions.
—Taryn Luna, Los Angeles Times, 30 May 2025
As Trump’s top second-term legislative priority remained in limbo, the courts once again were a thorn in his side on what to him may be his most important policy objective of all: his big, beautiful tariffs.
—W. James Antle Iii, The Washington Examiner, 29 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for thorn
Cite this Entry
“Thorn.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/thorn. Accessed 16 Jun. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
thorn
noun1
: a woody plant bearing sharp processes (as prickles or spines)
especially
: hawthorn
2
: a sharp stiff process on a plant
especially
: a stem modified into a short, stiff, and leafless sharp point
3
: something or someone that causes distress or irritation
—often used in the phrase thorn in one's side
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