thorn

noun

ˈthȯrn 

often attributive

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\

thorned

ˈthȯrnd 

adjective

thornless

ˈthȯrn-ləs 

adjective

thornlike

ˈthȯrn-ˌlīk 

adjective

Synonyms

• headache
• nuisance
• irritant
• frustration
• rub

Examples of thorn in a Sentence

your constant questions are a thorn in my side

Recent Examples on the Web

James Tolkan plays Gerald Strickland, who worked at Hill Valley High School and, in both 1955 and 1985, was a thorn in the side of the McFlys. —Jonathon Dornbush, EW.com, 3 July 2025

Many people had thoughts about what was said, especially the constant thorn in Puff’s side, 50 Cent. —Armon Sadler, VIBE.com, 30 June 2025

Only Victor isn’t out to court easy sympathy, or make Agnes particularly relatable — the thorns still remain on the rose — or give viewers an easily digestible version of a survivor. —David Fear, Rolling Stone, 27 June 2025

For a fatherless girl is an exquisite rose on a branch lacking thorns, there for the picking. —Heather Scott Partington, Los Angeles Times, 16 June 2025

Word History

Etymology

Middle English, from Old English; akin to Old High German dorn thorn, Sanskrit tṛṇa grass, blade of grass

First Known Use

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 2

Phrases Containing thorn

• a thorn in the/someone's flesh/side
• Christ's-thorn
• Christ-thorn
• Jerusalem thorn
• thorn apple

Rhymes for thorn

• borne
• bourn
• bourne
• corn
• morn
• mourn
• porn
• scorn
• shorn
• sworn
• torn
• warn

Kids Definition

thorn

noun

ˈthȯ(ə)rn 

1

: 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

thorned

ˈthȯ(ə)rnd 

adjective

thornless

ˈthȯ(ə)rn-ləs 

adjective