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2
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 trio of legal actions against Illinois, Connecticut and Arizona is the furthest Trump officials have gone to try to override state laws and set the rules for a fast-growing industry that has run headlong into thorny questions about insider trading and profiting off war and suffering.
—
Bobby Allyn, NPR, 2 Apr. 2026
Despite Sora’s demise, thorny issues around generative AI aren’t going away for the union.
—Cynthia Littleton, Variety, 26 Mar. 2026
Whatever your opinion, Theroux has an impressive back catalogue of documentaries worth watching, each one tackling a thorny topic with his signature faux naivety and awkward charm.
—Irenie Forshaw, TheWeek, 25 Mar. 2026
The facts were highly technical and, unlike the Los Angeles case, didn’t involve qualitative assessments of young people’s personal lives or thorny debates about whether social media can be addictive.
—Kaitlyn Tiffany, The Atlantic, 25 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for thorny
Bobby Allyn, NPR, 2 Apr. 2026
Despite Sora’s demise, thorny issues around generative AI aren’t going away for the union.
—Cynthia Littleton, Variety, 26 Mar. 2026
Whatever your opinion, Theroux has an impressive back catalogue of documentaries worth watching, each one tackling a thorny topic with his signature faux naivety and awkward charm.
—Irenie Forshaw, TheWeek, 25 Mar. 2026
The facts were highly technical and, unlike the Los Angeles case, didn’t involve qualitative assessments of young people’s personal lives or thorny debates about whether social media can be addictive.
—Kaitlyn Tiffany, The Atlantic, 25 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for thorny
Recent Examples of Synonyms for thorny
Adjective
-
Glover, for instance, was particularly captivated by the jagged topography along the moon’s terminator, the dividing line between its illuminated side and the side cloaked in darkness.—
Denise Chow,
NBC news,
7 Apr. 2026
-
Outside the window were snippets of jagged peaks.—
Elizabeth Cantrell,
Travel + Leisure,
7 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
Such claims of penury, however, were difficult to square with certain facts.—
Patrick Radden Keefe,
New Yorker,
13 Apr. 2026
-
Over time, my relationship with my wife has become very difficult.—
R. Eric Thomas,
Chicago Tribune,
12 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
Looking back, Garth confirmed that the prickly dynamic eventually manifested between the two women in real life.—
Juliana Ukiomogbe,
InStyle,
9 Apr. 2026
-
Unlike juniper which has a prickly texture, Monterey cypress foliage is soft, almost feathery.—
Megan Hughes,
Better Homes & Gardens,
6 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
As the inspirational Moon glides into your 7th House of Allies, your expressive nature invites connection, and your generous spirit lightens tough conversations.—
Tarot.com,
Baltimore Sun,
10 Apr. 2026
-
One factor is that the Highlanders, a Division 3 team, haven’t faced the toughest schedule.—
Don Norcross,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
9 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
The Best Deals at the Quince Sale If your current towels are limp, scratchy, or just plain uninspired, Quince’s Turkish Classic Bath towels are an instant bathroom upgrade.—
Audrey Lee,
Architectural Digest,
25 Mar. 2026
-
The most interesting thing about the song might be the scratchy, lo-fi guitar solo half way through, and that only lasts 15 seconds.—
Ben Cardew,
Pitchfork,
10 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
The Moon in your sensitive 8th house is squaring Venus in your aspirational 11th house, potentially inciting irritation at the intersection of individual privacy and group plans.—
Tarot.com,
Sun Sentinel,
12 Apr. 2026
-
Analysts say the government of Nigeria may feel a papal visit may be too sensitive at this time.—
Paul Tilsley,
FOXNews.com,
12 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
Administration officials previously told CBS News that some of the aggressive tactics used by ICE and Border Patrol agents had become politically problematic.—
Julia Ingram,
CBS News,
13 Apr. 2026
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And no one ever will again, because Heathers is a (wonderfully) problematic time capsule.—
Debby Wolfinsohn,
Entertainment Weekly,
13 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
The figures had cracked in many places and some of the statues revealed their complicated armature.—
Douglas Stuart,
New Yorker,
12 Apr. 2026
-
Legacy therapeutic approaches are sometimes complicated, costly, slow or restricted in geography.—
Lucy Jones
April 11,
Miami Herald,
11 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Thorny.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/thorny. Accessed 15 Apr. 2026.
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