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 spiny 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 of thorn

• 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

Gast Studio’s Stem Vase, on show at group exhibition Deoron, features glossy oversized thorn shapes that give the object both a hostile presence and a pleasingly jagged profile, like a rose stem on steroids. —Francesca Perry, CNN Money, 24 Apr. 2026

Shelter has long been a thorn in the side of the inflationary outlook for a very long time. —Eleanor Pringle, Fortune, 24 Apr. 2026

Based on the 2003 roman à clef by Lauren Weisberger, the project was once a thorn in Wintour’s side that threatened to derail her legacy. —Matt Donnelly, Variety, 23 Apr. 2026

The air campaign was short, Libyan leader and longtime thorn in the side of Washington Moammar Gadhafi was dead within eight months – killed by his own countrymen. —Andrew Latham, The Conversation, 22 Apr. 2026

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