thorns

noun

plural of thorn
as in headaches
something that is a source of irritation your constant questions are a thorn in my side

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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 thorns Roses are considered non-toxic, though thorns can cause injuries and floral preservatives may still pose a risk. — Lauren Paige Richeson, USA Today, 2 Sep. 2026 Keep in mind that rose stems are often armed with sharp prickles, not thorns. — Michele Laufik, Martha Stewart, 25 Aug. 2026 Their kickers’ health and performance for years have been one of the thorns in the team’s side. — Pat Leonard, New York Daily News, 13 Aug. 2026 In many species, the pronotum extends over the body to form elaborate shapes that resemble thorns, buds, or other plant structures, providing excellent camouflage. — Markis Hill, Kansas City Star, 9 Aug. 2026 These networks used to buffer against isolation and economic displacement—the thorns of modern life that make partnership more valuable yet love more difficult to find. — Faith Hill, The Atlantic, 3 Aug. 2026 Blackthorn salt was filtered through something called a tower of thorns. — Literary Hub, 22 July 2026 Worst of all, these trees have become invasive, crossing with other Callery cultivars to create wild hybrids that produce four-inch-long thorns. — Arricca Elin Sansone, Southern Living, 15 July 2026 And as Jones notes, much of that is due to the actors who’ve thrown themselves into the characters, thorns and all. — Hannah Giorgis Yohannes, Vanity Fair, 13 July 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for thorns
  1. headaches
  2. frustrations
  3. nuisances
  4. irritants
Noun
  • Those with the condition, which was eventually named Minamata disease, had symptoms including tremors, headaches, seizures, vision and hearing problems, ataxia, dysarthria, memory loss, and cognitive decline.
    — Encyclopedia Britannica, Encyclopedia Britannica, 3 Sep. 2026
  • Patients may experience a very high fever, headaches, neck pain, stupor, disorientation, muscle weakness and other serious symptoms.
    — Irene Wright, USA Today, 3 Sep. 2026
Definition of headaches
Noun
  • The past few weeks have seen the former host of To Catch a Predator repeatedly voice his frustrations with Oppenheim’s Primetime, A24’s dark thriller that will explore the origins of Hansen’s controversial Dateline segment.
    — Shania Russell, Entertainment Weekly, 3 Sep. 2026
  • The festering frustrations over Moreno’s meddling and middling tenure as owner were on full display throughout what is now the team’s 11th consecutive losing season.
    — Fabian Ardaya, New York Times, 2 Sep. 2026
Definition of frustrations
Noun
  • In March, a Jackson County judge ordered Millennia to board up the property and fix those nuisances.
    — Kendrick Calfee, Kansas City Star, 2 Sep. 2026
  • The number of bears killed by motor vehicle strikes, euthanized as nuisances because of conflicts with humans or poached in the Central Florida region over the past decade total about 1,900.
    — Stephen Hudak, The Orlando Sentinel, 31 Aug. 2026
Definition of nuisances
Noun
  • As federal agents increasingly used chemical irritants on crowds, Michael Cavlan began spending less time patrolling and more time treating people who’d been hurt.
    — Emily Witt, New Yorker, 31 Aug. 2026
  • Carney also said that Washington viewed protections for French and Canadian culture — considered fundamental rights in Canada — as irritants to trade.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 26 Aug. 2026
Definition of irritants

Browse Nearby Words

thorniness
thorns
thorny
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Thorns.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/thorns. Accessed 10 Sep. 2026.

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