1
as in intricate
having many parts or aspects that are usually interrelated
the knotty problems that arise when every nation is part of the global marketplace
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in difficult
requiring exceptional skill or caution in performance or handling
the candidates cautiously gave their views on an array of knotty issues
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of knotty
The British poet’s account of growing up and, later, growing into his deaf identity works to untangle his knotty relationship to his hearing impairment, which is both partial and, by nature, invisible.
—
Sophia Stewart, The Atlantic, 18 Aug. 2025
In his crowded, knotty-pine office, several young men and women sit at desks filling out forms.
—Nicholas Pileggi, Curbed, 15 Aug. 2025
No sense in wasting your time on flailing around to solve a knotty problem.
—Lance Eliot, Forbes.com, 14 Aug. 2025
This gives the roots a knotty appearance from which its common name is derived.
—Kim Toscano, Southern Living, 9 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for knotty
Sophia Stewart, The Atlantic, 18 Aug. 2025
In his crowded, knotty-pine office, several young men and women sit at desks filling out forms.
—Nicholas Pileggi, Curbed, 15 Aug. 2025
No sense in wasting your time on flailing around to solve a knotty problem.
—Lance Eliot, Forbes.com, 14 Aug. 2025
This gives the roots a knotty appearance from which its common name is derived.
—Kim Toscano, Southern Living, 9 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for knotty
Recent Examples of Synonyms for knotty
Adjective
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These small-scale outfit changes, paired with an intricate and precise lighting design that, at times, bathed the arena in blue light, seemed to reveal Lorde’s desire to bare everything, to be so transparent as to be see through.—
Rachel Seo,
Variety,
20 Sep. 2025
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The house, which comes with a private boat dock and direct river access, is characterized by original architectural details from the period, a steep, pitched roof with cross gables, expansive dormer windows, intricate decorative wood trim and a wrap-around porch.—
David Caraccio,
Sacbee.com,
20 Sep. 2025
Adjective
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Winning that game won't be easy, but winning it without Lamb would be even more difficult.—
Evan Massey,
MSNBC Newsweek,
22 Sep. 2025
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There will be times, like at a raucous Goodison Park last February, when Everton can rise to an occasion and make life difficult for their neighbours.—
Oliver Kay,
New York Times,
21 Sep. 2025
Adjective
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Overall, tinting laws can be pretty complicated.—
Keenan Thompson,
USA Today,
20 Sep. 2025
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Sustainability doesn’t have to be such a complicated topic.—
Christopher Marquis,
Forbes.com,
19 Sep. 2025
Adjective
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The Red Rocketeers were looking to bounce back after a tough loss against King Phillip, but the opponent was strong.—
Zachary McMahon,
Boston Herald,
20 Sep. 2025
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Lee described the rookies as tough competitors who displayed a championship mentality during their run to the summer league championship.—
Roderick Boone,
Charlotte Observer,
20 Sep. 2025
Adjective
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The shift would send states scrambling and complicate parents’ efforts to get young children vaccinated ahead of the coming respiratory virus season.—
Alexis Simendinger,
The Hill,
14 Aug. 2025
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The district has tried to be conservative on replacing items as efforts to form a fire territory complicate issues of investment and ownership.—
Shelley Jones,
Chicago Tribune,
8 July 2025
Adjective
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Formulated without alcohol or hydrogen peroxide, the TheraBreath Whitening Fresh Breath Oral Rinse uses glucose oxidase and enzymes called papain to help break up stains and kill bad-breath-causing bacteria—all without aggravating sensitive teeth and gums.—
Sophia Panych,
Allure,
16 Sep. 2025
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Organizations are increasingly relying on AI to handle the initial assessment load, especially in high-volume or compliance-sensitive hiring scenarios.—
Aaron Dhaliwal,
Forbes.com,
16 Sep. 2025
Adjective
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This scalable method opens the door for more complex structures that were once out of reach.—
Neetika Walter,
Interesting Engineering,
18 Sep. 2025
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Dyslexia like any other complex entity has a continuum from mild to severe manifestations.—
Laura Cassidy,
Forbes.com,
17 Sep. 2025
Adjective
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Created by Oscar winner Callie Khouri, the series tracks the tangled personal and professional lives of fictional country stars navigating fame, rivalries, and the high-stakes world of Music City.—
Allison DeGrushe,
Entertainment Weekly,
15 Sep. 2025
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These picks are designed to make getting around smoother, way more efficient, and to help frequent fliers avoid travel chaos (think tangled necklaces, dead phone batteries, and neck strains).—
Chaise Sanders,
Travel + Leisure,
12 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Knotty.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/knotty. Accessed 23 Sep. 2025.
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