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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
Perception versus reality can be a thorny topic in this always-ready-for-a-closeup world, but guests celebrated a certain groundedness.
—
Rosemary Feitelberg, Footwear News, 6 Nov. 2025
To say nothing about the thorny question of its genre—do Eastern European writers need to provide more explanations and justifications when using the technique of autofiction?
—Literary Hub, 5 Nov. 2025
This is a very thorny path forward for the Vikings over the next month.
—Alec Lewis, New York Times, 1 Nov. 2025
Her first — and arguably favorite — prime minister, Winston Churchill, took it upon himself to help mentor the Queen and also read her mood and responses to a thorny issue.
—Simon Perry, PEOPLE, 29 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for thorny
Rosemary Feitelberg, Footwear News, 6 Nov. 2025
To say nothing about the thorny question of its genre—do Eastern European writers need to provide more explanations and justifications when using the technique of autofiction?
—Literary Hub, 5 Nov. 2025
This is a very thorny path forward for the Vikings over the next month.
—Alec Lewis, New York Times, 1 Nov. 2025
Her first — and arguably favorite — prime minister, Winston Churchill, took it upon himself to help mentor the Queen and also read her mood and responses to a thorny issue.
—Simon Perry, PEOPLE, 29 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for thorny
Recent Examples of Synonyms for thorny
Adjective
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Rose now realizes the smeared, dark, jagged edges are an abstract human.—
Carly Tagen-Dye,
PEOPLE,
4 Nov. 2025
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All the shadows and jagged angles evoke German Expressionism, distorting Ronnie’s confrontation into something both surreal and terrifyingly recognizable.—
Roxana Hadadi,
Vulture,
31 Oct. 2025
Adjective
-
Jens generally chooses his words carefully, and is, what’s more, particularly reticent just after finishing a long and difficult winter delivery trip; what’s a person supposed to do with words in a blizzard anyway, up on a stormy heath and all directions lost?—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
10 Nov. 2025
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In his first start in the wake of Beau Pribula’s significant injury, Zollers walked into a difficult situation, and his stat line reflected it.—
Maddie Hartley,
Kansas City Star,
9 Nov. 2025
Adjective
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Go Greek with roasted tomatoes and crispy chickpeas with lemon-pepper dressing and a cucumber-olive salad, then hop to Haiti for pork cheeks with epis seasoning and prickly pikliz slaw.—
Rachel Bernhard,
jsonline.com,
22 Oct. 2025
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But Bennett is up to something odder and pricklier.—
Rhian Sasseen,
The Atlantic,
22 Oct. 2025
Adjective
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This loss had to be especially tough for the Jayhawks, considering a controversial holding call on KU changed the momentum of the game.—
Gary Bedore,
Kansas City Star,
9 Nov. 2025
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However, their record at the Etihad makes for tough reading.—
Andy Jones,
New York Times,
9 Nov. 2025
Adjective
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When the air turns crisp in fall and winter, the dryness indoors can sneak up on you — and so can flaky skin, a scratchy throat, and stuffy sinuses (not to mention allergens).—
Jeaneen Russell,
PEOPLE,
31 Oct. 2025
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Linen can sometimes lean scratchy and wrinkly, but the texture felt just right for wearing inside or outside the house.—
Julia Harrison,
Architectural Digest,
28 Oct. 2025
Adjective
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This includes women with estrogen sensitive breast or uterine cancer, and women who are at high risk for or have had a heart attack, stroke, blood clot, or pulmonary embolism.—
Allison Aubrey,
NPR,
11 Nov. 2025
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In insulin resistance, the body's cells become less sensitive to insulin, which leads to higher blood sugar levels.—
Leigh Weddle,
Verywell Health,
11 Nov. 2025
Adjective
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The show leans into this offensive, problematic plot device without any self-awareness.—
Tom Smyth,
Vulture,
5 Nov. 2025
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However, others didn't find the ad too problematic.—
MSNBC Newsweek,
MSNBC Newsweek,
5 Nov. 2025
Adjective
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The flare suggests there are unknown populations of giant stars near the centers of large galaxies, which also host supermassive black holes — and sheds light on the complicated interactions between two behemoths.—
Ashley Strickland,
CNN Money,
7 Nov. 2025
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What unites them is Dern’s ability to find the humanity in characters navigating life’s most complicated terrain.—
Clayton Davis,
Variety,
7 Nov. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Thorny.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/thorny. Accessed 2 Dec. 2025.
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