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as in difficult
requiring exceptional skill or caution in performance or handling
the candidate tried to avoid discussing his views on the thorny issue
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of thorny
For Teens, Saving Each Other From Social Media Is a Team Effort
Still, critics say the social media age restriction was a knee-jerk reaction passed without proper consultation, involves thorny data-privacy issues, and creates even more risks for youngsters who use platforms illicitly.
—
Charlie Campbell, Time, 3 Apr. 2025
Its purpose was to solve a thorny problem affecting many Silicon Valley companies: how to attract engineers and entrepreneurs who lacked American work permits or visas.
—Ian Urbina, Los Angeles Times, 28 Mar. 2025
Despite a recent pause on some tariffs, Apple remains in a particularly thorny spot as Donald Trump's trade war spikes costs in the tech company's iPhone manufacturing hub, China.
—ArsTechnica, 11 Apr. 2025
Carefully spoon out the thorny flower portions at the center of the artichoke, and pour in a bit of lemon juice to help prevent browning.
—Sarah Martens, Better Homes & Gardens, 27 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for thorny
Charlie Campbell, Time, 3 Apr. 2025
Its purpose was to solve a thorny problem affecting many Silicon Valley companies: how to attract engineers and entrepreneurs who lacked American work permits or visas.
—Ian Urbina, Los Angeles Times, 28 Mar. 2025
Despite a recent pause on some tariffs, Apple remains in a particularly thorny spot as Donald Trump's trade war spikes costs in the tech company's iPhone manufacturing hub, China.
—ArsTechnica, 11 Apr. 2025
Carefully spoon out the thorny flower portions at the center of the artichoke, and pour in a bit of lemon juice to help prevent browning.
—Sarah Martens, Better Homes & Gardens, 27 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for thorny
Recent Examples of Synonyms for thorny
Adjective
-
The brown resurrection fern that grew thick along the jagged edges of the hollow was changing to a bright green right before her eyes.—
Lizz Schumer,
People.com,
1 May 2025
-
The jagged edges matched the pointed toes of her metallic silver stilettos.—
Kathleen Walsh,
Glamour,
30 Apr. 2025
Adjective
-
Rust, a difficult movie to release, grossed $25k at 115 theaters, presented by Falling Forward Films.—
Jill Goldsmith,
Deadline,
4 May 2025
-
Surace 39-37 Round 3 - These are difficult to score.—
Brian Mazique,
Forbes.com,
3 May 2025
Adjective
-
Boselli and his teammates, coached by prickly taskmaster Tom Coughlin, saw it differently.—
Michael Silver,
New York Times,
29 Apr. 2025
-
There’s the prickly one sporting a spiked collar and the wannabe cowboy twirling a lasso.—
Ariel Bleicher,
Quanta Magazine,
16 Apr. 2025
Adjective
-
Published in English, Tehelka had a small circulation but an outsized reputation for tough investigations.—
Andrew Marantz,
New Yorker,
28 Apr. 2025
-
Four times, he’s used it to strikeout hitters, with the horizontal break being tough to pick up.—
Abbey Mastracco,
New York Daily News,
28 Apr. 2025
Adjective
-
This is often due to postnasal drip, which is when mucus from the nose and sinuses drains down the back of the throat, causing irritation and a scratchy feeling.—
Tribune Content Agency,
Mercury News,
3 Apr. 2025
-
It’s made from a soft alpaca wool blend, which adds tons of warmth without feeling hot or scratchy.—
Anne Taylor,
Travel + Leisure,
16 Apr. 2025
Adjective
-
The Trump administration – with Musk and his aides as the tip of the spear – have roiled the federal government with mass layoffs and demands for access to sensitive information at agencies including the Social Security Administration and the National Labor Relations Board.—
Cybele Mayes-Osterman,
USA Today,
3 May 2025
-
With uneasiness surrounding reports of electronic searches during border crossings, some travelers have opted to use burner phones—rather than bring their personal phones with them—to protect sensitive information.—
Iona Brannon,
AFAR Media,
2 May 2025
Adjective
-
Some of his primary opponents have argued his reliance on billionaire donors is problematic.—
Chris Sommerfeldt,
New York Daily News,
2 May 2025
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This dynamic was itself problematic but was compounded when the 1997 Asian financial crisis led to a string of Malaysia’s biggest companies being bailed out by the state, creating conditions ripe for rent-seeking behavior.—
Charlie Campbell,
Time,
2 May 2025
Adjective
-
The Princess of Wales is coming off a very complicated year.—
Blanche Marcel,
Glamour,
28 Apr. 2025
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Admittedly, the show started to lose some momentum in later seasons as subplots and shifting relationships became more complicated.—
ArsTechnica,
ArsTechnica,
27 Apr. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Thorny.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/thorny. Accessed 9 May. 2025.
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