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\
Examples of thorn in a Sentence
your constant questions are a thorn in my side
Recent Examples on the Web
Lai, a pugnacious former publisher whose now shuttered tabloid Apple Daily was a regular thorn in Beijing’s side, is in the midst of a national security trial that could send him to prison for life.
—
Juliana Liu, CNN Money, 10 May 2025
The absence of Curry will be a big thorn in the Warriors' side as he's been great these playoffs.
—Ricardo Klein, MSNBC Newsweek, 7 May 2025
The Freedom Caucus was once a thorn in the side of Trump early in his first term, when members opposed an ObamaCare replacement bill the president pushed for.
—Caroline Vakil, The Hill, 28 Apr. 2025
Houston slugger Yordan Alvarez was a thorn in the side of Royals starter Kris Bubic, with two hits, including a three-run homer.
—Jaylon Thompson, Kansas City Star, 27 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for thorn
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Juliana Liu, CNN Money, 10 May 2025
The absence of Curry will be a big thorn in the Warriors' side as he's been great these playoffs.
—Ricardo Klein, MSNBC Newsweek, 7 May 2025
The Freedom Caucus was once a thorn in the side of Trump early in his first term, when members opposed an ObamaCare replacement bill the president pushed for.
—Caroline Vakil, The Hill, 28 Apr. 2025
Houston slugger Yordan Alvarez was a thorn in the side of Royals starter Kris Bubic, with two hits, including a three-run homer.
—Jaylon Thompson, Kansas City Star, 27 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for thorn
Cite this Entry
“Thorn.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/thorn. Accessed 20 May. 2025.
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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