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
Other diamonds have spikier settings resembling thorns.
—
Samantha Conti, Footwear News, 27 May 2026
Thanks to four layers of latex and a 3750D elastic outer fabric, the inner hose is protected from pesky things like thorns and sharp corners.
—Quincy Bulin, Better Homes & Gardens, 19 May 2026
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
Samantha Conti, Footwear News, 27 May 2026
Thanks to four layers of latex and a 3750D elastic outer fabric, the inner hose is protected from pesky things like thorns and sharp corners.
—Quincy Bulin, Better Homes & Gardens, 19 May 2026
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
Recent Examples of Synonyms for thorns
Noun
-
Folks who live close to data centers have reported headaches, vertigo, nausea, sleep disturbances, ear pain and hypertension, the institute website says.—
Greta Cross,
USA Today,
2 June 2026
-
People in the trial reported similar side effects to those from mRNA Covid vaccines — flu-like symptoms including chills and headaches — that only lasted a couple of days.—
Kaitlin Sullivan,
NBC news,
1 June 2026
Noun
-
Lahn seized on those frustrations.—
Nik Popli,
Time,
3 June 2026
-
Body language aside, Brown also didn’t share his frustrations publicly, declining to speak with reporters.—
Saad Yousuf,
New York Times,
2 June 2026
Noun
-
For buyers whose lives are otherwise optimized to the point of abstraction, taking on those tangible nuisances can feel almost noble.—
Spencer Elliott,
Forbes.com,
19 May 2026
-
Japanese beetles and slugs are pesky nuisances that will go after the basil in your garden.—
Heather Bien,
Southern Living,
16 May 2026
Noun
-
Asked about Valdez, Bis said law enforcement deployed chemical irritants including pepper balls, but not rubber bullets, after agitators attempted to breach the perimeter at Glass House Farms.—
Andrea Castillo,
Los Angeles Times,
26 May 2026
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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
Cite this Entry
“Thorns.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/thorns. Accessed 5 Jun. 2026.
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