1
as in intricate
having many parts or aspects that are usually interrelated
the knotty problems that arise when every nation is part of the global marketplace
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in difficult
requiring exceptional skill or caution in performance or handling
the candidates cautiously gave their views on an array of knotty issues
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of knotty
But simmering backlash to The Brutalist’s knottier second act—and, to a lesser extent, some scuttlebutt regarding the use of AI—could do it in; that the feature peaks about halfway through has become something of a prevailing opinion.
—
David Sims, The Atlantic, 23 Jan. 2025
This serum also did wonders for my typically knotty hair around the winter, and hydrated my roots even after just one application and blow dry.
—Alanna Martine Kilkeary, Glamour, 17 Jan. 2025
But the real crucible for the mayor is only just beginning to take shape, with her political prospects inextricably tied to the almost unfathomably knotty recovery ahead.
—Julia Wick, Los Angeles Times, 13 Jan. 2025
Most feature a king-size bed, wood-burning stove, plenty of knotty wood furniture, and fresh white linens.
—Maggie Fuller, AFAR Media, 3 Jan. 2025
See All Example Sentences for knotty
David Sims, The Atlantic, 23 Jan. 2025
This serum also did wonders for my typically knotty hair around the winter, and hydrated my roots even after just one application and blow dry.
—Alanna Martine Kilkeary, Glamour, 17 Jan. 2025
But the real crucible for the mayor is only just beginning to take shape, with her political prospects inextricably tied to the almost unfathomably knotty recovery ahead.
—Julia Wick, Los Angeles Times, 13 Jan. 2025
Most feature a king-size bed, wood-burning stove, plenty of knotty wood furniture, and fresh white linens.
—Maggie Fuller, AFAR Media, 3 Jan. 2025
See All Example Sentences for knotty
Recent Examples of Synonyms for knotty
Adjective
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Debugging intricate prompt chains can also be challenging.—
Mohammad Adnan,
Forbes.com,
27 Mar. 2025
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Talk into the night devolves into an intricate web of deception, seduction and revelation, where the lives of all involved may be destroyed or transformed.—
Greg Evans,
Deadline,
27 Mar. 2025
Adjective
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There are very big match-ups being played week in and week out in what is one of the most difficult leagues to play in on the planet, this means the big contenders will drop points more often than in some other leagues.—
Joseph O'Sullivan,
Forbes.com,
1 Apr. 2025
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Generations of design successors have insisted that pie charts are difficult to read and even amount to optical informatic illusions, but we are still stuck with them.—
Mara Mills,
Artforum,
1 Apr. 2025
Adjective
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Getting out of bed early is less complicated than people think, according to Barrett.—
Michael Dorgan,
Fox News,
23 Mar. 2025
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The mechanics of an evacuation just aren’t that complicated.—
Rascal Kemble-Curry,
New York Daily News,
22 Mar. 2025
Adjective
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The opening weekend miss for what was a very buzzy Sundance title back in 2023 about a troubled but ambitious bodybuilder follows controversy around its star and comes at a tough time for indie films in general.—
Jill Goldsmith,
Deadline,
23 Mar. 2025
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This likely helped maintain its brand trust during tough times. 8.—
Paul Klein,
Forbes,
23 Mar. 2025
Adjective
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There are extensive drawbacks to using nuclear weapons, including their very destructiveness—which could undermine larger objectives or complicate battlefield operations—and the international backlash that would follow.—
Paul Avey,
Foreign Affairs,
6 Mar. 2025
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Since the Trump administration took office, environmental activists have feared that certain existing standards could be rolled back and further complicate efforts to clean up American water supplies.—
Sharon Udasin,
The Hill,
26 Feb. 2025
Adjective
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The rise in interest rates and inflation could dampen the growth prospects of shale oil producers, particularly smaller companies that are highly sensitive to borrowing costs.—
Steven Dudash,
Forbes.com,
1 Apr. 2025
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These metrics gauge how sensitive an option’s price is to various factors.—
Michael Khouw,
CNBC,
31 Mar. 2025
Adjective
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While most jurisdictions are moving forward with digital tax reforms to ensure that foreign providers contribute to public revenue, the Dominican Republic has so far stepped back—highlighting the complex political and economic considerations that influence digital tax policy.—
Aleksandra Bal,
Forbes,
23 Mar. 2025
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Those on the inside track have already discovered white Châteauneuf-du-Pape, a racy but complex regional style of white wine that is popping up on tables and shelves with increasing frequency.—
Mike DeSimone and Jeff Jenssen,
Robb Report,
23 Mar. 2025
Adjective
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The collective tension as the game went on, and the poles became taller and more tangled, made every move exciting.—
James Palmer,
Smithsonian Magazine,
23 Dec. 2024
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Her free-associative lyrics are either mesmerizingly strange or plainly hilarious, and her tangled, clanging riffs have an oddly soothing effect.—
Spencer Kornhaber,
The Atlantic,
17 Dec. 2024
Cite this Entry
“Knotty.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/knotty. Accessed 5 Apr. 2025.
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