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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Examples Sentences
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Recent Examples of spiny
Unlike the common carp, which has a long spiny dorsal fin and a whiskerlike barbel near its mouth, the white amur has a short dorsal fin with no spines.
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John Leos, The Arizona Republic, 30 Nov. 2024
These spiny mammals are members of the Erinaceidae family and date back approximately 15 million years ago.
—Allison Futterman, Discover Magazine, 6 Nov. 2024
Generally, deer don’t prefer plants that are fuzzy, highly aromatic, spiny, or spiky.
—Arricca Elin Sansone, Southern Living, 2 Nov. 2024
These women are tough and spiny too, given to raucous songs, laughter and the occasional squabble.
—Dennis Harvey, Variety, 7 Oct. 2024
See all Example Sentences for spiny 
John Leos, The Arizona Republic, 30 Nov. 2024
These spiny mammals are members of the Erinaceidae family and date back approximately 15 million years ago.
—Allison Futterman, Discover Magazine, 6 Nov. 2024
Generally, deer don’t prefer plants that are fuzzy, highly aromatic, spiny, or spiky.
—Arricca Elin Sansone, Southern Living, 2 Nov. 2024
These women are tough and spiny too, given to raucous songs, laughter and the occasional squabble.
—Dennis Harvey, Variety, 7 Oct. 2024
See all Example Sentences for spiny
Recent Examples of Synonyms for spiny
Adjective
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An at least 200-year-old celebration of French and Mediterranean cuisine, macarons are renowned as the ‘impossible dessert,’ a result of the notoriously involved and difficult baking process.Chris Gallagher, USA TODAY, 20 Dec. 2024
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The manual entry of damage to structures like bridges used to be very expensive and time-consuming, a complex process made even more difficult by the fact that data entry and analysis are performed by both the agency’s own staff and external companies.Stephanie Glenk, Forbes, 19 Dec. 2024
Adjective
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Carro, known for his tough stance on crime and his experience with cases involving terrorism enhancements, will play a key role in shaping the trial's proceedings.Hannah Parry, Newsweek, 24 Dec. 2024
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In December, the West Central Montana Avalanche Center made the tough decision to no longer send avalanche experts to Seeley Lake to test the snowpack.Frederick Dreier, Outside Online, 23 Dec. 2024
Adjective
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The case focuses on efforts by Trump and his allies to overturn Georgia's 2020 election result by pressuring state officials and election workers, submitting a slate of false electors and attempting to tamper with sensitive voting equipment.Sam Gringlas, NPR, 19 Dec. 2024
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Other sensitive spots that passengers—especially folks over age 50—might not think about are the knees and ankles, reports Manhattan dermatologist Dr. Janet Prystowsky.Sara Button, AFAR Media, 19 Dec. 2024
Adjective
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The TikTok trends that coined wacky new terms, the brand scandals that got everyone checking their lot numbers, the most memorable celebrity makeup moments—this is your final exam on 2024’s hairiest, happiest, and most helpful beauty stories.Marci Robin, Allure, 19 Dec. 2024
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In a heartbreaking moment, Driggs lifts his hairy little arms up to his human, beseeching him to take him back.Erin Qualey, Vulture, 21 Aug. 2024
Adjective
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Its juicy cheeseburgers and sweet, sticky Hershey's brand milkshakes and sundaes were the stuff of daydreams.Catherine Jessee, Southern Living, 22 Dec. 2024
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The dough should be sticky, which makes great sufganiyot!Christine Rousselle, Fox News, 21 Dec. 2024
Adjective
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But the thorniest issue heading into the new year likely involves Musk, who has been a fixture at President-elect Donald Trump’s Mar-a-Lago resort in Florida since the election.Hayden Field, CNBC, 20 Dec. 2024
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Eating-disorder content has been one of the thorniest content-moderation issues since the beginning of the social web.Kaitlyn Tiffany, The Atlantic, 18 Dec. 2024
Adjective
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Matthew Stafford is miles better than any passer Washington has defeated since Week 4, and running back Kyren Williams (1,299 rushing yards, 14 touchdowns) is problematic.Ben Standig, The Athletic, 31 Dec. 2024
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The plaintiffs maintain this arrangement is problematic because NFL teams are competing businesses, and their pooling allegedly increases prices.Michael McCann, Sportico.com, 30 Dec. 2024
Adjective
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Yet the picture emerging from the latest research is more complicated.Manvir Singh, The New Yorker, 23 Dec. 2024
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The slow rollout underscores the complicated nature of commercializing cutting-edge medical treatments and getting them to patients.Emily Mullin, WIRED, 23 Dec. 2024
Thesaurus Entries Near spiny
Cite this Entry
“Spiny.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/spiny. Accessed 6 Jan. 2025.
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