Merriam-Webster Logo
SINCE 1828
Menu
×

An Encyclopædia Britannica Company

Thesaurus

spiny

adjective

Synonyms and Antonyms of spiny

requiring exceptional skill or caution in performance or handling
  • This promises to be a spiny problem to negotiate.
Synonyms of spiny

catchy, delicate, difficult, hairy, knotty, nasty, prickly, problematic (also problematical), sensitive, sticky, thorny, ticklish, touchy, tough, tricky
Words Related to spiny

abstract, abstruse, complex, complicated, hard, intricate, involved, recondite, serious

problem, troublesome, troublous, vexatious, vexing, worrisome

burdensome, demanding, exacting, importunate, inconvenient, onerous, oppressive, painful, stressful
Near Antonyms of spiny

easy, effortless, manageable, simple, straightforward, uncomplicated, undemanding

Learn More about spiny

  1. See words that rhyme with spiny Dictionary: Definition of spiny Spanish Central: Translation of spiny Nglish: Translation of spiny for Spanish speakers

Seen and Heard

What made you want to look up spiny? Please tell us where you read or heard it (including the quote, if possible).

show hide

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

WORD OF THE DAY

bloviate

play

to speak or write verbosely and windily

Get Word of the Day daily email!

TRENDING NOW

  1. lowlife 'a person of low moral character'

  2. kakistocracy 'government by the worst people'

  3. slimeball 'a morally repulsive or odious person'

  4. salacious 'arousing or appealing to sexual desire'

  5. oligarch 'government in which a small group exercises control'

SEE ALL

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

Words at Play

alt-5ad8fc71357ed
Words We're Watching: 'Bluebeard,' the Verb

No, it's not a coiffure trend

alt-5ad8d3361fb97
Where 'Cliff-hangers' Come From

You're on the edge of your seat

alt-5ad77fad37d22
What the #@*% Is a ‘Grawlix'?

We can thank Beetle Bailey.

alt-5ad76a1542e73
'Altho' vs. 'Although'

Altho doesn't get much love.

Ask the Editors

image1760257654
2017 Word of the Year: Behind the Scenes

How we chose 'feminism'

video-title-words-of-the-year-1066
Words of the Year: 1066

Or, Why Pig Meat is Called 'Pork' and Cow Meat is Called 'Beef'

video-literally
Literally

How to use a word that (literally) drives some people nuts.

video-his-or-her
Is Singular 'They' a Better Choice?

The awkward case of 'his or her'

Word Games

image1926873504
Odd Habits and Quirks Quiz

Test your knowledge of strange human behaviors.

Take the quiz
cats-on-impossible-timber
More Confusing Words—Quiz

How many of these commonly confused words do you know?

Take the quiz
Name That Thing
Name That Thing

Test your visual vocabulary with our 10-question challenge!

Take the quiz
Word Winder's CrossWinder
Word Winder's CrossWinder

A game of winding words.

Play the game