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
Relevance
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
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of knotty
There’s also knotty legal issues if AI trains on private data without clear rights.
—
Ron Schmelzer, Forbes.com, 29 June 2025
The tit-for-tat Twitter spat comes as warring Republican factions were set for a crucial meeting Thursday to seek agreement on SALT and other knotty disputes that have endangered Trump’s sprawling budget bill.
—Dave Goldiner, New York Daily News, 15 May 2025
Commercially, deft handling by discerning arthouse distributors will be required to draw audiences to a knotty, novelistic work that is, in the most rewarding possible way, difficult to package or summarize.
—Guy Lodge, Variety, 14 May 2025
The thinking was that future leaders of the city’s public schools should be educators rather than business leaders, which past mayors have hired at times to wrestle with CPS’ knotty financial challenges.
—The Editorial Board, Chicago Tribune, 7 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for knotty
Ron Schmelzer, Forbes.com, 29 June 2025
The tit-for-tat Twitter spat comes as warring Republican factions were set for a crucial meeting Thursday to seek agreement on SALT and other knotty disputes that have endangered Trump’s sprawling budget bill.
—Dave Goldiner, New York Daily News, 15 May 2025
Commercially, deft handling by discerning arthouse distributors will be required to draw audiences to a knotty, novelistic work that is, in the most rewarding possible way, difficult to package or summarize.
—Guy Lodge, Variety, 14 May 2025
The thinking was that future leaders of the city’s public schools should be educators rather than business leaders, which past mayors have hired at times to wrestle with CPS’ knotty financial challenges.
—The Editorial Board, Chicago Tribune, 7 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for knotty
Recent Examples of Synonyms for knotty
Adjective
-
The makeup team had to elevate his cheekbones, reshape his eyebrows, add prosthetic elements including a substantial belly for later sequences, and craft the intricate facial hair that defines the aristocratic Rao Bahadur.—
Naman Ramachandran,
Variety,
18 Aug. 2025
-
Along with the intricate passing sequences they have traditionally been known for, the Catalans embraced directness and verticality, becoming one of Europe’s best counter-attacking sides.—
Anantaajith Raghuraman,
New York Times,
16 Aug. 2025
Adjective
-
This deep understanding of local transportation patterns would have been difficult with rapid multi-city expansion.—
Tima Bansal,
Forbes.com,
8 Aug. 2025
-
With hints of lemon and rosemary, this sandwich was difficult to put down, yet felt light and fresh.—
Logan Holland,
People.com,
7 Aug. 2025
Adjective
-
Some say the video represents a rising crime problem in the city, but crime statistics paint a more complicated picture.—
Dan Horn,
The Enquirer,
14 Aug. 2025
-
The Code Talkers developed an extensive and complicated code based on their own language, which substituted key military and geographical terms for related images.—
Rob Picheta,
CNN Money,
14 Aug. 2025
Adjective
-
Even if increasing competition and financial obstruction have influenced summer recruitment, making this season’s challenges tougher, the confidence in Unai Emery and Villa’s football department remains unerring.—
Jacob Tanswell,
New York Times,
14 Aug. 2025
-
Sanctions have roiled Russia's economy and Trump could use tougher measures as leverage over Putin, said Richard Portes, professor of economics at London Business School.—
Brendan Cole,
MSNBC Newsweek,
14 Aug. 2025
Adjective
-
Tariffs, trade wars and economic uncertainty complicate operations and planning.—
Simon Dae Oong Kim,
Forbes.com,
6 June 2025
-
Now, sometimes the people or circumstances around us complicate that endeavor.—
R. Eric Thomas,
Denver Post,
4 June 2025
Adjective
-
Federated Learning: This privacy-preserving technique allows AI models to learn from decentralized data across games and platforms without compromising user privacy, enhancing moderation without centralizing sensitive data.—
Anees Ali Khan,
Forbes.com,
8 Aug. 2025
-
They are also believed to degrade water quality, which can hurt sensitive organisms like freshwater mussels.—
Madeline Heim,
jsonline.com,
7 Aug. 2025
Adjective
-
Still, these businesses work to maintain complex supply chains with multiple suppliers, which is both time consuming and highly manual.—
Meghan Hall,
Sourcing Journal,
14 Aug. 2025
-
Navigating shifting federal priorities, complex public-private partnerships and global supply chain risks requires proactive engagement across governments, private investors and communities to secure sustainable capital and manage geopolitical uncertainties.—
Khaled Naja,
Forbes.com,
14 Aug. 2025
Adjective
-
Crane and Radley begin digging and find a tangled web of lies, institutional cover-ups, and moral compromise.—
Jesse Whittock,
Deadline,
13 Aug. 2025
-
Snatches of conversation amid busy crowd scenes fill in the tangled web of alliances and grudges holding this land together, or tearing it apart.—
Angie Han,
HollywoodReporter,
8 Aug. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Knotty.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/knotty. Accessed 22 Aug. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share