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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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of spiny
In addition to serving as a living mulch, the spiny hairs on squash leaves are thought to deter raccoons from stealing your sweet corn.
—
Kim Toscano, Southern Living, 4 Apr. 2025
The spiny dogfish’s gestation period lasts about two years.
—Joshua Rapp Learn, Discover Magazine, 27 Mar. 2025
The tuatara of New Zealand, a spiny reptilian relic, can outlive generations of researchers studying it.
—Scott Travers, Forbes.com, 29 Mar. 2025
Though these prawns have spiny shells that are difficult to peel, the meat has a sweet taste like lobster, making this entree one of the eatery’s main attractions.
—Patrick Connolly, Orlando Sentinel, 21 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for spiny
Kim Toscano, Southern Living, 4 Apr. 2025
The spiny dogfish’s gestation period lasts about two years.
—Joshua Rapp Learn, Discover Magazine, 27 Mar. 2025
The tuatara of New Zealand, a spiny reptilian relic, can outlive generations of researchers studying it.
—Scott Travers, Forbes.com, 29 Mar. 2025
Though these prawns have spiny shells that are difficult to peel, the meat has a sweet taste like lobster, making this entree one of the eatery’s main attractions.
—Patrick Connolly, Orlando Sentinel, 21 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for spiny
Recent Examples of Synonyms for spiny
Adjective
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No matter how sweet, the little crocodile grows bigger and more difficult to care for.—
Leo Barraclough,
Variety,
10 June 2025
-
Despite her risky gambit, Metcalfe, who is studying to be an attorney at the University of Law in Manchester, England, admits that her sport has helped her through some of the most difficult times of her life.—
Andy Frye,
Forbes.com,
10 June 2025
Adjective
-
When staring at twin suns like from much greater distances — many light-years away — astronomers have a much tougher time than young Skywalker in determining two stars from one.—
Robert Lea,
Space.com,
3 June 2025
-
This is a time for doing the tough, often unglamorous job of making the city function for all New Yorkers.—
Scott Stringer,
New York Daily News,
3 June 2025
Adjective
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This principle, applied across all workloads, is instrumental for reducing the risk of unauthorized access to sensitive data.—
Ben Blanquera,
Forbes.com,
10 June 2025
-
Amino acids are more easily absorbed than proteins and do not damage the intestinal environment, which means even those with sensitive digestions can take them.—
MISAKI KAWATSU,
Vogue,
10 June 2025
Adjective
-
Atlanta Falcons quarterback Kirk Cousins poked fun at Travis Kelce’s hairy back as a photo of the Kansas City Chiefs star went viral across social media last week.—
Ryan Gaydos,
FOXNews.com,
25 May 2025
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The visual of Molly’s head under a blanket and Guy’s two hairy legs dangling over the side of the bed is terrifically funny.—
Erin Qualey,
Vulture,
7 Apr. 2025
Adjective
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The unique gel texture sets into a lightweight veil that feels comfortable and stays put, so there’s no pillow staining or sticky residue.—
Marie Lodi,
Allure,
2 June 2025
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Neanderthals made and used wooden spears, cared for their fellow community members, made sticky tar and other adhesives, and butchered massive elephants, among other feats.—
Sarah Kuta,
Smithsonian Magazine,
2 June 2025
Adjective
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These include infidelities, unspoken longings, and thorny questions of land inheritance.—
The New Yorker,
New Yorker,
2 June 2025
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In his first inaugural address in 1933, former President Franklin D. Roosevelt laid out a political axiom that would come to shrewdly diagnose America's thorny brand of insularity.—
Clare Morell,
MSNBC Newsweek,
30 May 2025
Adjective
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The comment was in answer to how Friends, in its second resurgence in the streaming era, was receiving some criticism for some of its problematic elements, i.e. the lack of diversity, homophobia, sexism, etc.—
Stephanie Sengwe,
People.com,
7 June 2025
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Some lawns are just too big for a bot to handle, and even smaller lawns present more problematic terrain than a carpeted floor.—
John Mihaly,
PC Magazine,
6 June 2025
Adjective
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Since then, however, there have been new revelations in their complicated family dynamics.—
Jordana Comiter,
People.com,
3 June 2025
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But every one of those steps was much more complicated for abelian surfaces.—
Joseph Howlett,
Quanta Magazine,
2 June 2025
Cite this Entry
“Spiny.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/spiny. Accessed 14 Jun. 2025.
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