thorny

adjective

ˈthȯr-nē 

thornier; thorniest

1

: full of thorns

2

: full of difficulties or controversial points : ticklish

a thorny problem

thorniness noun

Synonyms

• brambly
• prickly
• scratchy
• thistly

Examples of thorny in a Sentence

stay out of the thorny brambles unless you want a ton of scratches

Recent Examples on the Web

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

That’s Mary Livanos looking out for the larger tapestry of this family and the visual language, and Wanda and Billy having this thorny relationship with the larger public. —Adam B. Vary, Variety, 1 Nov. 2024

The phenomenon raises thorny questions about consent and reproductive rights. —Seyward Darby, Longreads, 29 Oct. 2024

Word History

First Known Use

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

Kids Definition

thorny

adjective

ˈthȯr-nē 

thornier; thorniest

1

: full of or covered with thorns

thorny rose bushes

2

: full of difficulties

a thorny problem

thorniness noun