as in headache
something that is a source of irritation
your constant questions are a thorn in my side
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of thorn
Lisianthus, sometimes referred to as the rose without thorns, is a favorite among florists and gardeners alike.
—
Cori Sears, The Spruce, 5 Mar. 2026
Burchett, along with Mace, Luna, and other conservative Republicans, is frequently a thorn in the side of congressional leadership and sees the panel as a platform for their legislative priorities.
—David Sivak, The Washington Examiner, 26 Feb. 2026
So that was the rose, here's the thorn.
—Ed Masley, AZCentral.com, 26 Feb. 2026
The group was a thorn in the side of Fidel Castro, and the Castro Brothers took action.
—Hank Tester, CBS News, 24 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for thorn
Cori Sears, The Spruce, 5 Mar. 2026
Burchett, along with Mace, Luna, and other conservative Republicans, is frequently a thorn in the side of congressional leadership and sees the panel as a platform for their legislative priorities.
—David Sivak, The Washington Examiner, 26 Feb. 2026
So that was the rose, here's the thorn.
—Ed Masley, AZCentral.com, 26 Feb. 2026
The group was a thorn in the side of Fidel Castro, and the Castro Brothers took action.
—Hank Tester, CBS News, 24 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for thorn
Recent Examples of Synonyms for thorn
Noun
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Finn was experiencing headaches and nausea, which led to an emergency room visit and a sudden diagnosis.—
Jori Parys,
CBS News,
8 Mar. 2026
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Symptoms can include fever, headache, facial swelling, malaise and swelling of the salivary glands.—
Caelyn Pender,
Mercury News,
8 Mar. 2026
Noun
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For long, chip designers have viewed moving ions as a nuisance.—
Mrigakshi Dixit,
Interesting Engineering,
6 Mar. 2026
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The lawsuit asks the Ingham County Circuit Court to declare Kalshi's internet sports betting operation a common law nuisance and to issue a permanent injunction and order of abatement enjoining and restraining Kalshi from engaging in or advertising its internet sports betting operation in Michigan.—
Jalen Williams,
Freep.com,
6 Mar. 2026
Noun
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Federal agents clashed with students and staff at the end of the school day, deploying chemical irritants and tackling several people in the encounter.—
Beret Leone,
CBS News,
2 Mar. 2026
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In that incident, federal agents deployed chemical irritants against protesters and observers in Mueller Park in the Lowry Hill East neighborhood of Minneapolis, the Minnesota Star Tribune reported.—
Kathryn Kovalenko,
Twin Cities,
2 Mar. 2026
Noun
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There was a crisp new poster on the easel at the Werth practice facility that displayed the Big East Tournament trophy, not yet mauled in frustration and held together by tape like the regular-season version had been.—
Joe Arruda,
Hartford Courant,
10 Mar. 2026
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The cost of parking, and parking tickets, has long been a frustration for state workers who commute to downtown Sacramento.—
William Melhado,
Sacbee.com,
10 Mar. 2026
Noun
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With a rub count of 100,000, this is a type of sofa that will last you ages.—
Julia Harrison,
Architectural Digest,
3 Mar. 2026
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With a foreword by fellow Oaklander and Native American author Tommy Orange, Wahpepah’s book invites readers to a pre-colonial cuisine of bison roast with chokeberry rub, acorn muffins and wild rice fritters stuffed with apples, cranberries, pepita crema and much more.—
Chase Hunter,
Mercury News,
27 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Thorn.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/thorn. Accessed 14 Mar. 2026.
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