as in difficult
requiring exceptional skill or caution in performance or handling
this promises to be a spiny problem to negotiate
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Recent Examples of spiny
Keep your gooseberry shrub well-watered, and be sure to prune it—some varieties of this shrub have fairly spiny branches that can make harvesting berries uncomfortable without gloves.
—
Alexandra Kelly, Martha Stewart, 27 Apr. 2026
The plant is easily identified by its rampant growth in the spring and its spiny globular fruit.
—Joshua Siskin, Oc Register, 16 Apr. 2026
In late November, the annual Anegada Lobster Festival takes the island's year-round lobster love and turns it into an obsession, with local restaurants featuring special dishes and plenty of events making the spiny Anegada lobster the star of the show.
—Carley Rojas Avila, Travel + Leisure, 9 Apr. 2026
The Cleveland Botanical Garden's Glasshouse spotlights plants, insects, birds, and more from the spiny desert of Madagascar and the rainforest of Costa Rica.
—Ashlyn Ware, Midwest Living, 9 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for spiny
Alexandra Kelly, Martha Stewart, 27 Apr. 2026
The plant is easily identified by its rampant growth in the spring and its spiny globular fruit.
—Joshua Siskin, Oc Register, 16 Apr. 2026
In late November, the annual Anegada Lobster Festival takes the island's year-round lobster love and turns it into an obsession, with local restaurants featuring special dishes and plenty of events making the spiny Anegada lobster the star of the show.
—Carley Rojas Avila, Travel + Leisure, 9 Apr. 2026
The Cleveland Botanical Garden's Glasshouse spotlights plants, insects, birds, and more from the spiny desert of Madagascar and the rainforest of Costa Rica.
—Ashlyn Ware, Midwest Living, 9 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for spiny
Recent Examples of Synonyms for spiny
Adjective
-
Some organizers say America's complicated and at times difficult history is being glossed over by fireworks and flag-waving ‒ or that it's being politicized by an administration that has actively worked to advance its version of history.—
Phaedra Trethan,
USA Today,
22 June 2026
-
The move gives Marte another chance to work his way back to the major leagues after a difficult stretch that included a brief stop with the Cincinnati Reds organization earlier this year before a cut.—
Peter Chawaga,
Forbes.com,
21 June 2026
Adjective
-
McIlroy bogeyed 18 to finish at one under, squarely in the hunt, considering the tough conditions limited scoring.—
Ian Miller OutKick,
FOXNews.com,
19 June 2026
-
Parker, a former Eagles assistant, has risen quickly through the NFL coaching ranks and now faces a tough task with a roster full of new faces and high expectations.—
Briana Aldridge,
CBS News,
18 June 2026
Adjective
-
According to the text of the current agreement, the most sensitive nuclear issues are not yet agreed to on paper.—
Quinn Scanlan,
ABC News,
21 June 2026
-
Just last month, an attack on Canvas, a software used in schools and colleges, put thousands of students at risk by exposing sensitive information.—
Taylor Croft,
AJC.com,
21 June 2026
Adjective
-
The threat that these hairy tanks (some can weigh over 1,500 pounds) pose to drivers is so great that Volvo, a brand synonymous with safety, built their own life-sized rubber replica.—
Mack DeGeurin,
Popular Science,
18 June 2026
-
People had expectations of Mike Myers, because of SNL and Wayne’s World — not everybody was going along with this idea of the bad teeth, hairy body and taking the piss out of Bond.—
Angela Andaloro,
PEOPLE,
13 June 2026
Adjective
-
This helps prevent crumbs, dust, and sticky residue from accumulating in hard-to-see areas.—
Jamie Cuccinelli,
Martha Stewart,
16 June 2026
-
No flakes, no buildup, no sticky feel -- just long-lasting hold and definition that keeps your hair moving.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
16 June 2026
Adjective
-
The negotiations are meant to resolve some of the thorniest issues in the deal that are yet to be agreed upon, including Iran’s nuclear program.—
Mithil Aggarwal,
NBC news,
20 June 2026
-
This next round of technical talks, intended to tackle the thorny issue of Iran’s nuclear program, will be much more complicated.—
Nic Robertson,
CNN Money,
19 June 2026
Adjective
-
The judge’s ruling contained a caveat that Sorsby sit out the first two games of the Red Raiders’ season, a distinction that, as detailed below, the NCAA depicts as problematic in its own right.—
Michael McCann,
Sportico.com,
15 June 2026
-
Still, the situation as a whole is certainly problematic, said Craig Prescott in The Sunday Times.—
The Week UK,
TheWeek,
14 June 2026
Adjective
-
This will surely bring up some complicated emotions.—
Eric Thomas,
Sun Sentinel,
20 June 2026
-
Behind the glitter, grooves and Grammy-winning legacy of Earth, Wind & Fire sits a more complicated story, revealing a more personal side of the band’s founder, Maurice White.—
Stephanie Giang-Paunon,
FOXNews.com,
20 June 2026
Cite this Entry
“Spiny.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/spiny. Accessed 22 Jun. 2026.
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