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
Articles Related to thorn
Dictionary Entries Near thorn
Cite this Entry
“Thorn.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/thorn. Accessed 28 Nov. 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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