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as in difficult
requiring exceptional skill or caution in performance or handling
the candidate tried to avoid discussing his views on the thorny issue
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of thorny
The climate crisis is a big, thorny problem that demands nuance and thoughtful reflection.
—
Sammy Roth, Los Angeles Times, 15 May 2025
The cases have raised thorny legal questions about jurisdiction as well as First Amendment rights to free speech, which extend to both citizens and noncitizens under the US Constitution.
—Gloria Pazmino, CNN Money, 14 May 2025
Join Our Other Game Discussions Want to be part of the conversation about New York Times Games, or maybe get some help with a particularly thorny puzzle?
—Sam Corbin, New York Times, 13 May 2025
The millionaire tax hike suggestion came as House Republicans are rushing to iron out the thorniest portions of President Trump’s legislative agenda together before meeting to advance the bills next week.
—Emily Brooks, The Hill, 10 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for thorny
Sammy Roth, Los Angeles Times, 15 May 2025
The cases have raised thorny legal questions about jurisdiction as well as First Amendment rights to free speech, which extend to both citizens and noncitizens under the US Constitution.
—Gloria Pazmino, CNN Money, 14 May 2025
Join Our Other Game Discussions Want to be part of the conversation about New York Times Games, or maybe get some help with a particularly thorny puzzle?
—Sam Corbin, New York Times, 13 May 2025
The millionaire tax hike suggestion came as House Republicans are rushing to iron out the thorniest portions of President Trump’s legislative agenda together before meeting to advance the bills next week.
—Emily Brooks, The Hill, 10 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for thorny
Recent Examples of Synonyms for thorny
Adjective
-
The thunder rolled and lightning danced among the jagged peaks as a summer rainstorm soaked the alpine meadows of California’s Sierra Nevada.—
Ernie Cowan,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
25 May 2025
-
In addition to more glaciers (circa 300) than any other national park in the Lower 48 states, North Cascades boasts dozens of jagged snowy peaks, wild rivers, tranquil lakes, and among the highest biodiversity of any U.S. park.—
Joe Yogerst,
Forbes.com,
24 May 2025
Adjective
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But the fact that Schwartzman, in his first film, was given the difficult task of stealing laughs away from a comedy legend, and so often succeeds in doing so, gives him the slight edge.—
Shannon Carlin,
Time,
30 May 2025
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Shaving requires removing the end cap of a bat, which can be difficult to do, and shaving down or thinning out the inner wall of the barrel.—
Ralph D. Russo,
New York Times,
30 May 2025
Adjective
-
And who should pick up Agathe from the ferry but a handsome, prickly Englishman, Oliver (Charlie Anson), the great-great-great-great-grandnephew of Ms. Austen herself.—
Katie Walsh,
Twin Cities,
25 May 2025
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No, the show’s appeal lies in its complicated depiction of bickering and bruising sisters, with prickly performances from Meghann Fahy and Milly Alcock giving the series an alluring and distinguishing jolt.—
Roxana Hadadi,
Vulture,
22 May 2025
Adjective
-
Being a careless jackass but also irresistibly charming is a tough needle to thread.—
Staff Author Published,
EW.com,
22 May 2025
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Johnson has been on a winning streak this year with Trump in the White House and backing him repeatedly to muscle through a series of very tough votes on the slimmest of majorities.—
Christian Datoc,
The Washington Examiner,
22 May 2025
Adjective
-
Everything was soft to touch except the scratchy instrument binnacle.—
Matthew MacConnell,
Forbes.com,
21 May 2025
-
Pavement’s early music was scratchy and eccentric, built on guitars that gnawed and eked their way through songs.—
Hua Hsu,
New Yorker,
19 May 2025
Adjective
-
The lightweight formula is fragrance-free — ideal for sensitive skin — and doubles as a primer thanks to its matte finish.—
Madison Yauger,
People.com,
30 May 2025
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Other lawsuits have focused on one area DOGE has seen great success in: amassing sensitive government data and combining it into massive databases.—
Stephen Fowler,
NPR,
30 May 2025
Adjective
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The problematic effect is that the votes of 100 potentially biased members of the media can cause significant salary changes for a few players every season.—
Lev Akabas,
Sportico.com,
23 May 2025
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Baltimore City Hall leaders acknowledged on Wednesday that squatting and social media networks potentially profiting from such activities are problematic.—
Gary Collins,
Baltimore Sun,
23 May 2025
Adjective
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The result is a mosaic of broods that makes the jigsaw puzzle of periodical cicada distribution more complicated, but more interesting.—
Chris Simon,
The Conversation,
22 May 2025
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My work centers Native characters who are fully human: messy, funny, complicated.—
Melanie Goodfellow,
Deadline,
22 May 2025
Cite this Entry
“Thorny.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/thorny. Accessed 5 Jun. 2025.
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