SPINY Synonyms: 55 Similar and Opposite Words

spiny

adjective

ˈspī-nē

Definition of spiny

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

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Recent Examples of spiny The spiny, long-legged, and often reviled cockroach has become an unlikely symbol of dissent among India’s Gen Z, in a sharp rebuke to the ruling establishment in the world’s largest democracy. — Rhea Mogul, CNN Money, 22 May 2026 If a creature is small enough to swallow and not spiny or sticky or otherwise resists Yoshi's tongue, it will be turned into a green egg that's the series standard. — Will Greenwald, PC Magazine, 19 May 2026 Last year, Choudhury produced the film Wild London in which Attenborough — then aged 99 — shimmies on his belly to get eye-to-eye with the spiny mammal. — Lauren Frayer, NPR, 8 May 2026 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 See All Example Sentences for spiny

Recent Examples of Synonyms for spiny

Adjective

Unlike dogs, they cannot simply be taken on longer walks, often resist dietary changes, and can be difficult to medicate consistently, making GLP-1 therapies potentially attractive if clinical trials prove successful.

— Elsa Ohlen,Carolin Roth, CNBC, 18 July 2026
Their stories recount the devastation to homes and businesses, life in temporary shelters, and the difficult process of rebuilding or relocating.

— Michelle Oliva-Espinosa, Kansas City Star, 18 July 2026

Definition of difficult

Adjective

White, when give the chance, has displayed a diverse offensive game, a defensive bent and an ability to make tough shots.

— Barry Jackson, Miami Herald, 17 July 2026
The stakes for new avatar don’t feel quite as high—the specific circumstances around the former was a perfect storm that'll be tough to duplicate—but the music isn’t any less potent for it.

— Lawrence Burney, Pitchfork, 16 July 2026

Definition of tough

Adjective

High levels of fine particulate matter in the air from wildfire smoke may be unhealthy for sensitive groups, such as children and people with heart or lung conditions.

— ABC News, ABC News, 15 July 2026
Right on the heels of Microsoft releasing a record number of security patches, a researcher has published exploit code that can enable low-privilege Windows accounts to make sensitive changes to administrator accounts.

— Dan Goodin, ArsTechnica, 15 July 2026

Definition of sensitive

Adjective

New leaves frequently emerge reddish, and the plant may grow as a ground cover, shrub, or climbing vine with hairy aerial roots.

— Samantha Johnson, Martha Stewart, 15 July 2026
This daring accessory was first debuted in Schiaparelli’s fall 2024 ready-to-wear collection, and the hairy tie has been making the rounds with other celebrities such as Selma Blair.

— Christian Allaire, Vogue, 6 July 2026

Definition of hairy

Adjective

The metal shelving across from the ice machines had sticky accumulation.

— Veronica Fernandez-Alvarado July 17, Sacbee.com, 17 July 2026
To diagnose those sticky tasks and peddle its tools, Snap-on relies on thousands of franchisees, who make weekly visits to nearly a million neighborhood mechanics in custom company vans.

— Scott Horsley, NPR, 17 July 2026

Definition of sticky

Adjective

The thorny issue of AI will of course be debated with Adriana Ramírez of Megatrax leading the discussion.

— Anna Marie de la Fuente, Variety, 13 July 2026
These traits alone don’t make this tree invasive, but the trees began cross-pollinating with other pear species, whose offspring create thorny thickets that smother native plants and habitat.

— Erica Browne Grivas, Better Homes & Gardens, 12 July 2026

Definition of thorny

Adjective

An official also noted at a briefing last week that testing has taken longer because the genome of cyclospora is more complicated than that of other parasites.

— Blake Ellis, CNN Money, 20 July 2026
As anyone who has searched for the perfect white T-shirt knows, finding wardrobe basics can prove surprisingly complicated.

— Sophie Wirt, InStyle, 19 July 2026

Definition of complicated

Browse Nearby Words

spinsters

spiny

spiral

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“Spiny.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/spiny. Accessed 20 Jul. 2026.

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Synonyms of spiny

adjective

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