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
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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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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of knotty
Meanwhile, negotiators on Gaza pushed the knottiest issues to later phases of this agreement.
—
Nicholas Kristof, The Mercury News, 28 Jan. 2025
Think knotty-pine headboards, cozy leather furniture with plaid throw pillows, and floor-to-ceiling windows showcasing stellar views of the Rockies.
—Elizabeth Brownfield, Forbes, 1 Mar. 2025
Its moral dimensions are more straightforward than those in Jude’s previous work (and its form much simpler in kind), but only because their practical applications are that much knottier in return.
—David Ehrlich, IndieWire, 19 Feb. 2025
Meanwhile, negotiators on Gaza pushed the knottiest issues to later phases of this agreement.
—Nicholas Kristof, The Mercury News, 28 Jan. 2025
See All Example Sentences for knotty
Nicholas Kristof, The Mercury News, 28 Jan. 2025
Think knotty-pine headboards, cozy leather furniture with plaid throw pillows, and floor-to-ceiling windows showcasing stellar views of the Rockies.
—Elizabeth Brownfield, Forbes, 1 Mar. 2025
Its moral dimensions are more straightforward than those in Jude’s previous work (and its form much simpler in kind), but only because their practical applications are that much knottier in return.
—David Ehrlich, IndieWire, 19 Feb. 2025
Meanwhile, negotiators on Gaza pushed the knottiest issues to later phases of this agreement.
—Nicholas Kristof, The Mercury News, 28 Jan. 2025
See All Example Sentences for knotty
Recent Examples of Synonyms for knotty
Adjective
-
Design and Accommodations With glossy lacquered wood, intricate marquetry, sumptuous fabrics, and lamps by Lalique and Baccarat, the VSOE exudes Jazz Age glamour.—
Laura Itzkowitz,
Travel + Leisure,
25 May 2025
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An avid builder and gamer, Max loves constructing intricate creations with LEGOs and diving into videogame worlds where his creativity can roam free.—
MARE Staff,
Boston Herald,
25 May 2025
Adjective
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But the fact that Schwartzman, in his first film, was given the difficult task of stealing laughs away from a comedy legend, and so often succeeds in doing so, gives him the slight edge.—
Shannon Carlin,
Time,
30 May 2025
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Shaving requires removing the end cap of a bat, which can be difficult to do, and shaving down or thinning out the inner wall of the barrel.—
Ralph D. Russo,
New York Times,
30 May 2025
Adjective
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My work centers Native characters who are fully human: messy, funny, complicated.—
Melanie Goodfellow,
Deadline,
22 May 2025
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The result is a mosaic of broods that makes the jigsaw puzzle of periodical cicada distribution more complicated, but more interesting.—
Chris Simon,
The Conversation,
22 May 2025
Adjective
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Being a careless jackass but also irresistibly charming is a tough needle to thread.—
Staff Author Published,
EW.com,
22 May 2025
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Johnson has been on a winning streak this year with Trump in the White House and backing him repeatedly to muscle through a series of very tough votes on the slimmest of majorities.—
Christian Datoc,
The Washington Examiner,
22 May 2025
Adjective
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Left unmanaged, these issues can disrupt family dynamics, derail careers, deplete wealth and complicate legacy planning.—
John Samuels,
Forbes.com,
22 Apr. 2025
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Shifting trade policies, geopolitical risks, supply shortages and evolving regulatory landscapes all complicate decision-making.—
Sarah Jones,
Sourcing Journal,
10 Apr. 2025
Adjective
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Moreover, data tokenization or de-identification allows sensitive information (like PII or health records) to be replaced with non-sensitive surrogates, reducing risk without compromising analytics.—
Shinoy Vengaramkode Bhaskaran,
Forbes.com,
30 May 2025
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Tian also allegedly sent additional sensitive data on U.S. weapons systems.—
Adam Sabes,
FOXNews.com,
30 May 2025
Adjective
-
Unlike traditional car batteries, lithium-ion packs are complex, often made up of hundreds of individual cells.—
Melanie Marshall,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
22 May 2025
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But the situation is complex even for race fans, and there are many layers to the controversy.—
Jeff Gluck,
New York Times,
22 May 2025
Adjective
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At the moment, the tangled web of the Heat’s payroll has far-reaching tentacles.—
Ira Winderman,
Sun Sentinel,
21 May 2025
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Through shocking testimonies from government insiders, confidential documents, and private audio recordings from the highest level of the military, BODYGUARD OF LIES exposes the tangled web of deception fed to the American public by the U.S. government during its 20-year war in Afghanistan.—
Matthew Carey,
Deadline,
7 May 2025
Cite this Entry
“Knotty.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/knotty. Accessed 5 Jun. 2025.
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