Synonyms of thorny

thorny

adjective

ˈthȯr-nē 

1

as in jagged

having leaves or branches which are likely to cause a scratch

stay out of the thorny brambles unless you want a ton of scratches

Synonyms & Similar Words

• jagged
• prickly
• scratchy
• brambly
• thistly
• rough
• coarse
• bristly
• burred

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

• difficult
• tough
• sensitive
• problematical
• problematic
• complicated
• sticky
• knotty
• delicate
• tricky
• spiny
• touchy
• hairy
• problem
• prickly
• complex
• ticklish
• nasty
• serious
• tricksy
• hard
• painful
• dodgy
• catchy
• intricate
• troublesome
• vexing
• abstruse
• recondite
• abstract
• stubborn
• vexatious
• troublous
• worrisome
• involved
• scabrous
• inconvenient
• burdensome
• onerous
• oppressive
• stressful
• demanding
• exhausting
• importunate
• exacting
• discommoding

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• easy
• simple
• manageable
• uncomplicated
• straightforward
• painless
• effortless
• unproblematic
• undemanding

Examples of thorny in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Tara flour is one of two products made from the seed pods of a thorny shrub native to Peru. —Sandee Lamotte, CNN, 3 Oct. 2024

That’s a very complicated, thorny business with lots of pitfalls. —Georg Szalai, The Hollywood Reporter, 3 Oct. 2024

Her thorny resilience is a rare thing in popular music, and her stories, tempestuous and explicit, have a mythic weight. —Pitchfork, 1 Oct. 2024

But while that thorny issue festers in the background, the best women players will put on a show in an intriguing tournament that will captivate the cricket world. —Tristan Lavalette, Forbes, 26 Sep. 2024