thorn

noun, often attributive \ ˈthȯrn \

Updated on: 18 Apr 2018

Definition of thorn

1 a : a sharp rigid process on a plant; especially : one that is a short, indurated, sharp-pointed, and leafless modified stem — compare prickle, spine

b : any of various sharp spinose structures on an animal

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\

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thorned

play \ˈthȯrnd\ adjective

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thornless

play \ˈthȯrn-ləs\ adjective

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thornlike

play \ˈthȯrn-ˌlīk\ adjective

See thorn defined for English-language learners

See thorn defined for kids

Examples of thorn in a Sentence

your constant questions are a thorn in my side

Recent Examples of thorn from the Web

But every year, the thorn in the festival's side is appropriative fashion.

— jessica andrews, Teen Vogue, "Dear White Women, We Need To Talk About Coachella | Pop Feminist," 13 Apr. 2018
The young politician rose quickly to become a leading voice in the black rights movement, and a thorn in the side of opposing politicians.

— janet tappin coelho, The Christian Science Monitor, "Mourning 'Marielle,' Brazilian women push to carry on slain activist's legacy," 13 Apr. 2018
The pole cucumber is the thorn in the side of the cucumber’s otherwise sterling reputation.

— alex delany, Bon Appetit, "A Definitive Ranking of Grocery Store Cucumbers," 9 Apr. 2018
That especially applies to the vegetation as anyone who has tangled with catclaw, backed into a tasajillo or hopped on one leg when a mesquite thorn poked all the way through a boot sole and punctured a foot will attest.

— shannon tompkins, Houston Chronicle, "Rattlers and ticks part of spring turkey hunting," 8 Apr. 2018
Burns responded by striking out Alex Samples for his sixth strikeout of the game before issuing back-to-back two-out walks to load the bases for Harris -- the Missouri (21-7, 5-4 SEC) leadoff man who was a thorn in No.

— tom green, AL.com, "Missouri grand slam hands No. 9 Auburn baseball 2nd straight SEC series loss," 1 Apr. 2018
He's been a consistent critic and thorn in Wall Street's side, a progressive champion in the mold of U.S. Sen. Elizabeth Warren and President Barack Obama.

— cleveland.com, "What the candidates for governor want you to know -- and what they don't," 27 Mar. 2018
Oh, yeah, the Yankees can pitch, too, and could be the No. 1 thorn in the Astros' side come October. 4.

— jeff wilson, star-telegram, "Can the Houston Astros repeat? Here are 5 storylines for the 2018 MLB season | Fort Worth Star-Telegram," 23 Mar. 2018
Randall Benton Sacramento Bee file 700 K Street Youssefi began working almost a decade ago on the 700 block of K Street, long a thorn in the side of a downtown struggling for revival.

— ellen garrison, sacbee, "How Ali Youssefi left his mark on Sacramento | The Sacramento Bee," 11 Mar. 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'thorn.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.