1
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
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of thorny
Mina the Hollower blends elements of retro Zelda adventures like Link’s Awakening with more modern games like Elden Ring, and randomizing things in Mina’s world provides some thorny challenges right from the start.
—
Jay Peters, The Verge, 27 May 2026
Though there is much in the circumstance that merits applause, the mainstay of the effort was not to provide a positive mathematical proof per se, but instead to discover a counterexample that undercuts a prevailing conjecture regarding the solution to the thorny problem.
—Lance Eliot, Forbes.com, 26 May 2026
Questions around which company would be the parent, how a stock swap would take place, and who determines the appropriate price are among the thorny challenges.
—Seema Mody,lora Kolodny, CNBC, 26 May 2026
Pass over Brzezinski, and ownership will push the chips in on a bet similar to the hire of Kwesi Adofo-Mensah, where an executive enters a building with many thorny dynamics.
—Alec Lewis, New York Times, 22 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for thorny
Jay Peters, The Verge, 27 May 2026
Though there is much in the circumstance that merits applause, the mainstay of the effort was not to provide a positive mathematical proof per se, but instead to discover a counterexample that undercuts a prevailing conjecture regarding the solution to the thorny problem.
—Lance Eliot, Forbes.com, 26 May 2026
Questions around which company would be the parent, how a stock swap would take place, and who determines the appropriate price are among the thorny challenges.
—Seema Mody,lora Kolodny, CNBC, 26 May 2026
Pass over Brzezinski, and ownership will push the chips in on a bet similar to the hire of Kwesi Adofo-Mensah, where an executive enters a building with many thorny dynamics.
—Alec Lewis, New York Times, 22 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for thorny
Recent Examples of Synonyms for thorny
Adjective
-
At Palisades State Park, striking red-pink Sioux quartzite cliffs jut up to 50 feet above Split Rock Creek, their jagged faces almost glowing against a backdrop of bucolic farmland.—
Taryn Shorr-Mckee,
Midwest Living,
4 June 2026
-
Rescuers knew that getting them out would not be easy in the face of jagged rocks, dirty water, near-zero visibility and the risk of panic.—
Janis Mackey Frayer,
NBC news,
4 June 2026
Adjective
-
JSerra navigated a difficult regular-season schedule, then avoided upsets in the playoffs.—
Eric Sondheimer,
Los Angeles Times,
8 June 2026
-
But the strength of his acidic, strong, difficult performance was too powerful for the Tonys to deny.—
Rebecca Alter,
Vulture,
8 June 2026
Adjective
-
The landscape views are breathtaking since the terrain is so hilly and rocky (as opposed to the flat terrain of the savannah) and covered in Lebombo euphorbia, a cactus-like tree with a single trunk and an entire canopy of prickly, upright branches.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
3 June 2026
-
Plant it near tomatoes, squash and strawberries—its prickly leaves deter insect pests.—
Barbara Gillette,
The Spruce,
26 May 2026
Adjective
-
More recent air quality news Major automakers are urging the EPA to delay tougher vehicle pollution standards for two years.—
Tony Briscoe,
Los Angeles Times,
4 June 2026
-
In a tough economy for local breweries, Clairvoyant has found a way to keep its heart beating.—
Michael Deeds,
Idaho Statesman,
4 June 2026
Adjective
-
Persistent headaches, scratchy throats and that foggy, fatigued feeling that never quite lifts may not be a virus or seasonal pollen.—
Lauren Jarvis-Gibson,
Charlotte Observer,
8 June 2026
-
Plus, Amazon hasn’t skimped on quality with a largely cotton construction that’s comfortable to wear without feeling scratchy or rigid.—
Merrell Readman,
Travel + Leisure,
19 May 2026
Adjective
-
In a chat with Mica, George apologized for not being sensitive to her feelings following the recoupling.—
Armando Tinoco,
Deadline,
7 June 2026
-
These burn areas create barriers around villages, headwaters and sensitive sites, protecting them from wildfires during peak drought.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
7 June 2026
Adjective
-
Sorsby’s eligibility situation is unique and problematic.—
Michael McCann,
Sportico.com,
8 June 2026
-
The many communities with aging residents and older homes and road infrastructure in the Bay Area and around the state have heightened risk of both wildfire and problematic evacuations, Wara said.—
Ethan Baron,
Mercury News,
8 June 2026
Adjective
-
Wang Xiaogang, co-founder of the Chinese AI software company SenseTime and chairman of ACE Robotics, said his company is collecting a lot of human-centric data from factories, retailing and offices settings that could guide advanced robots to perform complicated functions.—
Chan Ho-Him,
Fortune,
6 June 2026
-
Be ready to get out the door in seconds, thanks to the effortless slip-on design, no complicated fastenings necessary.—
Caroline Hughes,
Travel + Leisure,
6 June 2026
Cite this Entry
“Thorny.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/thorny. Accessed 11 Jun. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
