as in difficult
requiring exceptional skill or caution in performance or handling
this promises to be a spiny problem to negotiate
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of spiny
Identifiable by their protruding upper jaw and spiny bodies, the new species had a few key features that set them apart.
—
Irene Wright, Miami Herald, 2 Jan. 2025
The afternoon sun kissed the spiny ocotillos and barrel cactuses as the neighbors waited to talk to an Arizona Republic reporter.
—Brandon Loomis, The Arizona Republic, 19 Dec. 2024
The Queen conch, spiny Caribbean lobster and the red fruit of the turk’s head cactus – national treasures on roughly the same footing as the Union Jack – all sewn into the flag flapping over the tarmac.
—Mark Gauert, Sun Sentinel, 25 Nov. 2024
The dunes sagebrush lizard, also known as the sand dune lizard, is a spiny creature native to dunelands and shrublands in southeastern New Mexico and West Texas.
—Brandi D. Addison, Austin American-Statesman, 20 May 2024
See All Example Sentences for spiny
Irene Wright, Miami Herald, 2 Jan. 2025
The afternoon sun kissed the spiny ocotillos and barrel cactuses as the neighbors waited to talk to an Arizona Republic reporter.
—Brandon Loomis, The Arizona Republic, 19 Dec. 2024
The Queen conch, spiny Caribbean lobster and the red fruit of the turk’s head cactus – national treasures on roughly the same footing as the Union Jack – all sewn into the flag flapping over the tarmac.
—Mark Gauert, Sun Sentinel, 25 Nov. 2024
The dunes sagebrush lizard, also known as the sand dune lizard, is a spiny creature native to dunelands and shrublands in southeastern New Mexico and West Texas.
—Brandi D. Addison, Austin American-Statesman, 20 May 2024
See All Example Sentences for spiny
Recent Examples of Synonyms for spiny
Adjective
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Stars of Durant’s stature can be notoriously difficult to pin down for interviews.—
Darnell Mayberry,
The Athletic,
23 Feb. 2025
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This year’s version of the Sox might be improved over 2024, but wins will be difficult to come by with so much youth and inexperience.—
Paul Sullivan,
Chicago Tribune,
23 Feb. 2025
Adjective
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This all adds up to a tough investment outlook for any business looking at Ukraine’s mineral supply.—
Energy Innovation: Policy and Technology,
Forbes,
27 Feb. 2025
-
Ties during Trump’s first term One of the hallmarks of the first Trump Administration was a tougher stance towards China compared to his predecessors, through tit-for-tat tariffs and an Indo-Pacific strategy that aimed to curb Beijing’s growing influence in the Western Pacific.—
Chad de Guzman,
TIME,
27 Feb. 2025
Adjective
-
This question asks for personal sensitive information that is protected by privacy laws.—
Terry Parris Jr.,
New York Times,
23 Feb. 2025
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Many fractional leaders work across industries or sign non-compete agreements to avoid working with direct competitors, but companies must establish clear expectations to protect sensitive information.—
Dr. Diane Hamilton,
Forbes,
23 Feb. 2025
Adjective
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None of that hairy high school fake this, do what we're told.—
Jim Reineking,
USA TODAY,
25 Feb. 2025
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Common winter annual lawn weeds include hairy bittercress, various chickweeds, purple deadnettle and its cousin henbit, and Veronica/speedwell.—
Miri Talabac,
Baltimore Sun,
20 Feb. 2025
Adjective
-
Concerns around sticky inflation and rising global tensions remain, and, what’s more, other growing threats such as the ballooning U.S. deficit, and the protectionist rhetoric around tariffs, have central banks around the world looking for alternatives.—
Sarah Min,
CNBC,
27 Feb. 2025
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These insects end up being coated with a thick, sticky liquid that dries onto their bodies and serves to pollinate the flower.—
GrrlScientist,
Forbes,
26 Feb. 2025
Adjective
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Genealogical discovery calls for thorny detective work.—
Sara Georgini,
Smithsonian Magazine,
5 Mar. 2025
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The Fab Five was supposed to be used again this year but, likely due to the impossibly thorny optics of introducing Best Actress nominee Karla Sofía Gascón and the controversy surrounding her Islamophobic and anti-Black tweets, the format was nixed.—
Alex Abad-Santos,
Vox,
3 Mar. 2025
Adjective
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While many countries, states and major companies have taken steps to ban problematic plastics and set ambitious goals for waste reduction, the collective effort is still falling far short of what's needed to stem the tide of plastic waste.—
Gordon G. Chang,
Newsweek,
4 Mar. 2025
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Gold may be a good store of value but can be problematic as a medium of exchange, particularly in breaking deflationary spirals and supporting economic growth.—
Jon Helgi Egilsson,
Forbes,
3 Mar. 2025
Adjective
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With triads, one dropout will force you into more complicated rematching.—
Kevin Kruse,
Forbes,
27 Feb. 2025
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Administrators’ choices on admissions are made even more complicated by a weird dynamic in play across higher ed.—
Ian Bogost,
The Atlantic,
27 Feb. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Spiny.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/spiny. Accessed 9 Mar. 2025.
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