thornier; thorniest
1
: full of thorns
2
: full of difficulties or controversial points : ticklish
a thorny problem
thorniness noun

Examples of thorny in a Sentence

stay out of the thorny brambles unless you want a ton of scratches
Recent Examples on the Web
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.
The trademark application illustrates the thorny conflict-of-interest issues raised by Trump’s election victory and his sprawling business empire. Matt Egan, CNN, 21 Nov. 2024 Simultaneously, Christopher Nolan’s epic historical drama explored the thorniest corners of the 20th century — taking aim at the West’s use of nuclear weapons (notably without showing their horrifying aftermath) and earning nearly $976 million worldwide. Alison Foreman, IndieWire, 20 Nov. 2024 Then comes exchanging thorny engagement rings and drinking each other’s blood. Justin Curto, Vulture, 11 Nov. 2024 As secretary of transportation, Buttigieg has faced a series of thorny crises in the past four years, including several strikes and incidents, which led to harsh criticism from the Republican Party and even an impeachment attempt. Thomas G. Moukawsher, Newsweek, 7 Nov. 2024 See all Example Sentences for thorny 

Word History

First Known Use

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of thorny was before the 12th century

Dictionary Entries Near thorny

Cite this Entry

“Thorny.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/thorny. Accessed 1 Dec. 2024.

Kids Definition

thorny

adjective
thornier; thorniest
1
: full of or covered with thorns
thorny rose bushes
2
: full of difficulties
a thorny problem
thorniness noun

More from Merriam-Webster on thorny

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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