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
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Human relationships are intricate and inherently messy, providing intangible benefits like growth through discomfort and emotional depth through complexity.—
Kim Samuel,
Time,
14 May 2025
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Much of the challenge, quite simply, lies in the German language — American consumers tend to be dissuaded by unfamiliar grape names, complex labels and Germany’s famously intricate classification system.—
Anna Lee Iijima,
Chicago Tribune,
13 May 2025
Adjective
-
Two of Elissa’s tumors were obliterated that day, but the third was too difficult to reach without repositioning Elissa’s body in a way that would have taken too much time under anesthesia.—
Kristen Jordan Shamus,
USA Today,
19 May 2025
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Luca Solca sector head for global luxury goods at Bernstein Clouding the picture further, many other premium Swiss watchmakers including Rolex, Patek Philippe and Audemars Piguet, are privately owned, making their performance difficult to decipher.—
Karen Gilchrist,
CNBC,
18 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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Security clearance requirements limit the most sensitive jobs to U.S. citizens.—
Davis Winkie,
USA Today,
19 May 2025
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This question asks for personal sensitive information that is protected by privacy laws.—
Ernesto Londoño,
New York Times,
18 May 2025
Adjective
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Once seen as a simple roadmap toward sustainability, this mantra now conceals a far more complex and troubling reality.—
Aissa Dearing,
JSTOR Daily,
22 May 2025
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Last year, Jarrett contributed to research suggesting the Vikings participated in more complex trading routes with Indigenous Arctic tribes than previously believed.—
Andrew Paul,
Popular Science,
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 28 May. 2025.
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