as in headaches
something that is a source of irritation
your constant questions are a thorn in my side
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Recent Examples of thorns
Removing the thorns may help our favorite novels appeal to a wider audience, but such refinements make art feel as lifeless as Catherine Linton’s corpse at the end of Emerald Fennell’s film.
—
Literary Hub, 14 May 2026
That’s a whole lot of people — 24 of the 30 in this group alone — and Vought really isn’t helping their case with their hilariously corny promo of Jesus Christ himself passing the torch (or rather the crown of thorns).
—Ben Rosenstock, Vulture, 13 May 2026
Wear protective clothing and leather gloves, as thorns found along the stems hurt.
—Tom MacCubbin, The Orlando Sentinel, 10 May 2026
Also known as seaberry, Fried says this plant is notable for its resistance to deer because of its sharp thorns and tree-like height.
—Sj McShane, Martha Stewart, 14 Apr. 2026
Use clean pruners to trim away shoots, thorns, or roots along the soil and to help maintain the tree’s size.
—Karen Brewer Grossman, Southern Living, 9 Apr. 2026
This is a youthful, elegant rose that still has all its thorns.
—Ariel Wodarcyk, InStyle, 9 Apr. 2026
While not thorns, these foliar teeth can take a bite out of those who attempt to cross a thicket of torch aloes.
—Joshua Siskin, Oc Register, 4 Apr. 2026
These thorns, known as dendrites, have been difficult to study and understand – until now.
—New Atlas, 13 Mar. 2026
Literary Hub, 14 May 2026
That’s a whole lot of people — 24 of the 30 in this group alone — and Vought really isn’t helping their case with their hilariously corny promo of Jesus Christ himself passing the torch (or rather the crown of thorns).
—Ben Rosenstock, Vulture, 13 May 2026
Wear protective clothing and leather gloves, as thorns found along the stems hurt.
—Tom MacCubbin, The Orlando Sentinel, 10 May 2026
Also known as seaberry, Fried says this plant is notable for its resistance to deer because of its sharp thorns and tree-like height.
—Sj McShane, Martha Stewart, 14 Apr. 2026
Use clean pruners to trim away shoots, thorns, or roots along the soil and to help maintain the tree’s size.
—Karen Brewer Grossman, Southern Living, 9 Apr. 2026
This is a youthful, elegant rose that still has all its thorns.
—Ariel Wodarcyk, InStyle, 9 Apr. 2026
While not thorns, these foliar teeth can take a bite out of those who attempt to cross a thicket of torch aloes.
—Joshua Siskin, Oc Register, 4 Apr. 2026
These thorns, known as dendrites, have been difficult to study and understand – until now.
—New Atlas, 13 Mar. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for thorns
Noun
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The need to seek alternative Internet fiber routes comes on top of Big Tech’s other headaches from the war and Strait of Hormuz crisis.—
Jeremy Hsu,
ArsTechnica,
19 May 2026
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Scarlett Johansson is Hester, Irwin’s wife, whose terrible headaches and blurred vision result in a devastating medical diagnosis.—
Brent Lang,
Variety,
19 May 2026
Noun
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That potential is why the Bills chose to exercise the fifth-year option from his rookie contract despite recurring medical frustrations.—
Tim Graham,
New York Times,
21 May 2026
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Others focused on the park-wide outage itself, with some guests sharing frustrations about long waits and ride shutdowns throughout the day.—
Kelly McGreal,
FOXNews.com,
19 May 2026
Noun
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Land use regulations were legally justified as preventing nuisances, but in reality, the goal of many municipal leaders was to promote socially and racially homogenous neighborhoods, protect property values and keep property taxes low.—
Michael Schill,
Chicago Tribune,
13 May 2026
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Previous modernization efforts The airport has previously suffered from a host of issues that have proved nuisances for travelers, including green liquid falling from the ceiling and broken escalators.—
Sarah Perkel,
USA Today,
30 Apr. 2026
Noun
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For decades, scientists assumed the primary purpose of sneezing was simply to expel irritants from the upper airway.—
Scott Travers,
Forbes.com,
15 May 2026
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Federal agents also tackled several people and deployed chemical irritants at Roosevelt High School in south Minneapolis.—
Beret Leone,
CBS News,
11 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Thorns.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/thorns. Accessed 21 May. 2026.
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