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
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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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Recent Examples of knotty
Meanwhile, negotiators on Gaza pushed the knottiest issues to later phases of this agreement.
—
Nicholas Kristof, The Mercury News, 28 Jan. 2025
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
See All Example Sentences for knotty
Nicholas Kristof, The Mercury News, 28 Jan. 2025
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
See All Example Sentences for knotty
Recent Examples of Synonyms for knotty
Adjective
-
Dutch florists provided tens of thousands of flowers in an intricate, colorful layout − a tradition in its 39th year.—
John Bacon,
USA Today,
21 Apr. 2025
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At its core, quilting involves stitching together layers of fabric, often in intricate patterns, to create both beautiful and functional items.—
Abby Wolner,
Better Homes & Gardens,
19 Apr. 2025
Adjective
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Third, operational command of Kamikaze planes is difficult because results cannot be evaluated with any accuracy.—
CBS News,
CBS News,
11 Apr. 2025
-
Instead, the major drama comes in the form of Ivy’s corruption by her acting coach, as Ivy gradually goes method and becomes as difficult to work with as Marilyn was (one of this musical’s many meta moments).—
Christian Lewis,
Variety,
11 Apr. 2025
Adjective
-
Trump and Zuckerberg have a complicated history, with the president being critical of the Silicon Valley CEO's management of online censorship, which culminated in a ban from Meta platforms after the January 6 riots.—
Thomas G. Moukawsher,
MSNBC Newsweek,
14 Apr. 2025
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Oversharing and going dark are hazards of the moon’s complicated clash with Jupiter.—
USA TODAY,
USA Today,
14 Apr. 2025
Adjective
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Over the next two years, Muhammad rang up five more victories against progressively tougher competition.—
Trent Reinsmith,
Forbes.com,
15 Apr. 2025
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On the other side, the Grizzlies had an even tougher time with Curry, who finished with 52 points on 16-of-31 shooting.—
Anthony Slater,
New York Times,
14 Apr. 2025
Adjective
-
Shifting trade policies, geopolitical risks, supply shortages and evolving regulatory landscapes all complicate decision-making.—
Sarah Jones,
Sourcing Journal,
10 Apr. 2025
-
While promoting fairness, the rule can, and often does, complicate estate administration.—
Virginia La Torre Jeker, J.D.,
Forbes.com,
7 Apr. 2025
Adjective
-
Cooling, calming, and tailor-made for sensitive skin, this mask drapes delicately across your face to deliver a serious hit of cica (Centella asiatica) and allantoin—soothing redness and dryness in minutes.—
Annie Blackman,
Allure,
10 Apr. 2025
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In late March, four Taiwanese soldiers, three of whom were part of a unit that provides security for Taiwan’s Presidential Office, were jailed for up to seven years after being convicted of selling pictures of sensitive information to China.—
Eryk Michael Smith,
FOXNews.com,
10 Apr. 2025
Adjective
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This capability directly addresses use cases involving the analysis of extensive codebases, the summarization of lengthy documents, or maintaining context in prolonged complex interactions necessary for sophisticated AI agents.—
Janakiram MSV,
Forbes.com,
15 Apr. 2025
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What to know about the complex, long-simmering civil war Dearlove served as Britain's top spy between 1999 and 2004, when Tony Blair was prime minister.—
Kim Hjelmgaard,
USA Today,
14 Apr. 2025
Adjective
-
Her relentless pursuit of the truth unearths a tangled web of lies that threatens to unravel everything she’s built.—
Matthew Carey,
Deadline,
11 Apr. 2025
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Over time, some of the artifacts had corroded together to form a tangled mass, which researchers had to carefully extract.—
Sarah Kuta,
Smithsonian Magazine,
26 Mar. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Knotty.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/knotty. Accessed 26 Apr. 2025.
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