Synonyms of thorns

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

• headaches
• frustrations
• nuisances
• irritants
• worries
• inconveniences
• annoyances
• problems
• ruffles
• pests
• rubs
• vexations
• exasperations
• aggravations
• hair shirts
• insults
• trials
• bugbears
• peeves
• burdens
• menaces
• pinpricks
• irks
• curses
• botherations
• discomforts
• anxieties
• troubles
• hassles
• bothers
• sores
• affronts
• aggros
• plagues
• millstones
• predicaments
• tribulations
• fleabites
• crosses
• upsets
• annoyers
• offenders
• afflictions
• disturbers
• albatross
• mischiefs
• plights
• offenses
• pet peeves
• harassers
• hang-ups
• pandora's boxes

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• pleasures
• joys
• delights

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of thorns

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

According to Fried, songbirds especially like this tree’s fruit, which is reminiscent of blackberries but without the seeds or thorns. — Sj McShane, Martha Stewart, 18 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

Later, after a half-day tour to the nearby towns of Lampa and Pucará, the team made magic again, with a lunch in a forest of towering Puya raimondii, otherworldly bromeliads with thorns like piranha teeth. — Chris Schalkx, Travel + Leisure, 4 July 2026