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as in difficult
requiring exceptional skill or caution in performance or handling
the candidate tried to avoid discussing his views on the thorny issue
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Examples Sentences
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Recent Examples of thorny
That came in handy during my South African safari when the open-top vehicle would frequently brush against thorny trees, leaving my coat vulnerable to scrapes.
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Talia Ergas, Travel + Leisure, 4 Nov. 2024
No matter what happens in the two minutes after 5:41 Pacific at Del Mar on November 2, the immense $7-million 2024 Breeders’ Cup Classic is already in the history books as one of the thorniest racing minefields in recent memory for players to tap their way through.
—Guy Martin, Forbes, 30 Oct. 2024
Still, the task of narrating the lives of Jacob and Wilhelm remains as thorny as the hedge that trapped Briar Rose’s suitors.
—Jennifer Wilson, The New Yorker, 4 Nov. 2024
Outside of the tech industry, employees have been trying to help their peers outsmart the interview process by sharing thorny questions on the likes of Glassdoor: Fortune was able to find many of the quirky riddles Goldman Sachs asks its candidates on the careers platform.
—Alena Botros, Fortune, 1 Nov. 2024
See all Example Sentences for thorny 
Talia Ergas, Travel + Leisure, 4 Nov. 2024
No matter what happens in the two minutes after 5:41 Pacific at Del Mar on November 2, the immense $7-million 2024 Breeders’ Cup Classic is already in the history books as one of the thorniest racing minefields in recent memory for players to tap their way through.
—Guy Martin, Forbes, 30 Oct. 2024
Still, the task of narrating the lives of Jacob and Wilhelm remains as thorny as the hedge that trapped Briar Rose’s suitors.
—Jennifer Wilson, The New Yorker, 4 Nov. 2024
Outside of the tech industry, employees have been trying to help their peers outsmart the interview process by sharing thorny questions on the likes of Glassdoor: Fortune was able to find many of the quirky riddles Goldman Sachs asks its candidates on the careers platform.
—Alena Botros, Fortune, 1 Nov. 2024
See all Example Sentences for thorny
Recent Examples of Synonyms for thorny
Adjective
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To the north, not visible from the beach, was a distant shore, where rows of mountains resembling jagged waves disappeared into the mist.Greg Jackson, The New Yorker, 3 Nov. 2024
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The jagged shadows of buttes and spires disappeared and reappeared, a merry-go-round of angles cast on to the cascading rocks cradling the Colorado River.Lane Sainty, The Arizona Republic, 3 Nov. 2024
Adjective
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The decomposition products of chloramines are difficult to isolate and identify, and this substance has proven particularly elusive.Tom Hawking, Popular Science, 22 Nov. 2024
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But maintaining the progress made by Lynn the previous season was made all the more difficult by the fact that UCLA’s defense had been depleted by the NFL draft.Ryan Kartje, Los Angeles Times, 22 Nov. 2024
Adjective
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To many observers’ surprise, a prickly challenge that stymied city leaders a year ago ended in harmony, with a settlement seemingly favorable both to the city and to the elderly residents of Baldwin House.Bill Laytner, Detroit Free Press, 19 Nov. 2024
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That prickly sense of anxiety, constantly reading the tea leaves as a matter of survival, is just part of the ecosystem, like the blistering summer heat.Karen D'Souza, The Mercury News, 15 Nov. 2024
Adjective
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Bosa confirmed Wednesday that playing through a hip injury last game was the toughest pain he’s endured in 5 1/2 seasons.Cam Inman, The Mercury News, 15 Nov. 2024
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The Buffs need to find a way to grind out tough yards on the ground, especially late.Kyle Newman, The Denver Post, 15 Nov. 2024
Adjective
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Telltale warning signs of a cold usually include sneezing, runny nose, congestion, and scratchy throat.Sarah Bradley, Health, 6 Oct. 2024
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But Frank was more the scratchy handwriting type, prone to splotch—not one to weep, let alone for long.Carlos Valladares, ARTnews.com, 4 Oct. 2024
Adjective
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In today’s digital age, data encryption is vital for protecting sensitive information.Ofer Lidsky, Forbes, 22 Nov. 2024
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Microsoft also provides a way to exclude apps and websites from Recall, and the feature should also automatically detect sensitive information like credit card details, passwords, and personal ID numbers and not save those snapshots.Tom Warren, The Verge, 22 Nov. 2024
Adjective
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But golden mussels could be particularly problematic for water infrastructure and the Delta’s ecosystem if the species spreads and flourishes, said Andrew Rypel, a professor of fish ecology and director of UC Davis’ Center for Watershed Sciences.Ian James, Los Angeles Times, 6 Nov. 2024
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Even regular search results sometimes prove problematic though.Will Knight, WIRED, 6 Nov. 2024
Adjective
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But it’s not yet known whether there’s a limit to how varied and complicated these patterns can get.Joseph Howlett, Quanta Magazine, 11 Nov. 2024
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To make matters more complicated, the only way to bring in dump trucks and other machines that might be needed for a cleanup is by driving through Caltrans land.Blake Nelson, The Mercury News, 11 Nov. 2024
Thesaurus Entries Near thorny
Cite this Entry
“Thorny.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/thorny. Accessed 30 Nov. 2024.
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