often attributive
1
2
: a woody plant bearing sharp impeding processes (such as prickles or spines)
especially
: hawthorn
3
: something that causes distress or irritation
—often used in the phrase thorn in one's side
4
: the runic letter þ used in Old English and Middle English to represent either of the fricatives \th\ or \t͟h\ and in Icelandic to represent \th\
Synonyms
Examples of thorn in a Sentence
your constant questions are a thorn in my side
Recent Examples on the Web
Lai, a billionaire media tycoon who had long been a thorn in the side of Beijing, was arrested in August 2020, shortly after the central Chinese government imposed a national security law that criminalizes secession, subversion, terrorism and collusion with foreign forces.
—
Jennifer Jett, NBC News, 12 Nov. 2024
The lawsuit, filed by California resident Victor Cho, alleges a violation of the Video Privacy Protection Act, a federal law barring the disclosure of information about viewing habits that’s long been a thorn in the side of streaming providers.
—Winston Cho, The Hollywood Reporter, 1 Nov. 2024
And once again Mecole Hardman, who had the walk-off touchdown in Super Bowl LVIII, was a thorn in the 49ers’ side.
—Jeff Fedotin, Forbes, 20 Oct. 2024
When/where: 6 p.m. Friday at Jeffco Stadium Last meeting: Columbine 30, at Ralston Valley 14, Oct. 6, 2023
The other 5A Metro League showdown this week is a grudge match between perennial 5A powers that are constantly a thorn in each other’s sides.
—Matt Schubert, The Denver Post, 16 Oct. 2024
See all Example Sentences for thorn 
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Jennifer Jett, NBC News, 12 Nov. 2024
The lawsuit, filed by California resident Victor Cho, alleges a violation of the Video Privacy Protection Act, a federal law barring the disclosure of information about viewing habits that’s long been a thorn in the side of streaming providers.
—Winston Cho, The Hollywood Reporter, 1 Nov. 2024
And once again Mecole Hardman, who had the walk-off touchdown in Super Bowl LVIII, was a thorn in the 49ers’ side.
—Jeff Fedotin, Forbes, 20 Oct. 2024
When/where: 6 p.m. Friday at Jeffco Stadium Last meeting: Columbine 30, at Ralston Valley 14, Oct. 6, 2023
The other 5A Metro League showdown this week is a grudge match between perennial 5A powers that are constantly a thorn in each other’s sides.
—Matt Schubert, The Denver Post, 16 Oct. 2024
See all Example Sentences for thorn
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Dictionary Entries Near thorn
Cite this Entry
“Thorn.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/thorn. Accessed 1 Dec. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
thorn
noun1
: a woody plant bearing sharp processes (as prickles or spines)
especially
: hawthorn
2
: a sharp stiff process on a plant
especially
: a stem modified into a short, stiff, and leafless sharp point
3
: something or someone that causes distress or irritation
—often used in the phrase thorn in one's side
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