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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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 jazz polymath wrote, played, produced, and mixed everything on his new solo album, weaving overlapping loops and knotty counterpoints into a dynamic suite of interconnected pieces.
—
Mark Richardson, Pitchfork, 12 Mar. 2026
This year California voters will choose a new governor, fill other statewide offices, elect 100 state legislators and 52 members of Congress and weigh an array of knotty ballot measures.
—Dan Walters, Mercury News, 7 Mar. 2026
Democrats, hungry to win a Senate race for the first time since 1988, see an opening, but have their own knotty race to figure out.
—Thomas Beaumont, Arkansas Online, 2 Mar. 2026
And at a time of deep polarization, this moment is testing how far Britt, and other lawmakers, are willing to go to tackle knotty policy problems captivating national attention.
—Sam Gringlas, NPR, 27 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for knotty
Mark Richardson, Pitchfork, 12 Mar. 2026
This year California voters will choose a new governor, fill other statewide offices, elect 100 state legislators and 52 members of Congress and weigh an array of knotty ballot measures.
—Dan Walters, Mercury News, 7 Mar. 2026
Democrats, hungry to win a Senate race for the first time since 1988, see an opening, but have their own knotty race to figure out.
—Thomas Beaumont, Arkansas Online, 2 Mar. 2026
And at a time of deep polarization, this moment is testing how far Britt, and other lawmakers, are willing to go to tackle knotty policy problems captivating national attention.
—Sam Gringlas, NPR, 27 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for knotty
Recent Examples of Synonyms for knotty
Adjective
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One of the most important traditions is pineapple pole plaiting, in which artisans weave and shape materials into intricate forms.—
Taryn White,
Forbes.com,
15 May 2026
-
The intricate family drama uses Christianity as a pillar, but extends outward to explore the sticky nuances and unexpected circumstances that arise amid major life changes.—
Aramide Tinubu,
Variety,
15 May 2026
Adjective
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When Thomson went through a difficult divorce, in 2014, Djena would often check in on her, showing up at her door with food.—
Yudhijit Bhattacharjee,
New Yorker,
18 May 2026
-
Crow-Armstrong had just failed to make a highly difficult, leaping catch at the wall.—
Alejandro Avila OutKick,
FOXNews.com,
18 May 2026
Adjective
-
The Republican primary field is far more complicated.—
Claire Carter,
The Washington Examiner,
16 May 2026
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This summer’s most unlikely wine trend does not involve a rare bottle or a complicated spritz.—
Noel Burgess,
Forbes.com,
16 May 2026
Adjective
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Each of those teams will be competing for playoff spots again, leaving the Raiders with no easy divisional wins and a tough out-of-division schedule.—
Sam Warren,
New York Times,
15 May 2026
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The group did just enough against Sale and a tough Braves bullpen to avoid getting shut out for the third time in five games.—
Meghan Montemurro,
Chicago Tribune,
15 May 2026
Adjective
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These are common but complicate long-term planning for federal agencies.—
Hollie Silverman,
MSNBC Newsweek,
30 Sep. 2025
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Despite differing views on a variety of security issues, the group, like Gilpatric’s, reached a clear consensus: nuclear proliferation by any additional country would diminish U.S. power, complicate strategic planning, and increase the likelihood of nuclear use, accidents, and disasters.—
MARIANO-FLORENTINO CUÉLLAR,
Foreign Affairs,
25 Sep. 2025
Adjective
-
Auditors typically treat unattributable privileged actions as accountability gaps, because the framework expects sensitive operations to trace back to an accountable individual rather than an autonomous system.—
Janakiram MSV,
Forbes.com,
17 May 2026
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In addition, some companies and governments may pair that with quantum key cryptography, particularly for highly sensitive information.—
Katie Hunt,
CNN Money,
17 May 2026
Adjective
-
The long answer is a little more complex.—
Diana Bocco,
USA Today,
15 May 2026
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This single-sensor approach removes the need for the complex calibration typically required when combining separate lidar and camera systems.—
Aman Tripathi,
Interesting Engineering,
15 May 2026
Adjective
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The pet trade has become somewhat problematic, Marchand said.—
Alina Hartounian,
NPR,
18 May 2026
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What kind of developer puts his money into an indie documentary that might give his business-as-usual peers — not to mention investors, luxury condo buyers and other beneficiaries of Miami’s prolonged but problematic and plainly inequitable real-estate boom — a conniption?—
Andres Viglucci,
Miami Herald,
18 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Knotty.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/knotty. Accessed 19 May. 2026.
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