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
English Holly The most popular type of holly seen during the holidays is English holly (Ilex aquifolium), distinguished by its spiny evergreen leaves in deep glossy green or green edged in gold.
—
Erica Browne Grivas, Better Homes & Gardens, 3 Dec. 2024
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.
—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
See all Example Sentences for spiny 
Erica Browne Grivas, Better Homes & Gardens, 3 Dec. 2024
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.
—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
See all Example Sentences for spiny
Recent Examples of Synonyms for spiny
Adjective
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An aviation expert, along with the Army pilot, tells PEOPLE that Reagan National Airport can be especially difficult to fly into.—
Samira Asma-Sadeque,
People.com,
30 Jan. 2025
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Challenges of an Airline Pilot's Lifestyle Beyond the technical demands of the job, Wallach said the most difficult part of being a pilot was the lifestyle—particularly as a single parent.—
Thomas G. Moukawsher,
Newsweek,
30 Jan. 2025
Adjective
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Strings — and the fact the Nampa show happens May 20, before Idaho temperatures boil — makes this music lineup tough to resist.—
Michael Deeds,
Idaho Statesman,
3 Feb. 2025
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On the other hand, Hill has had a tough time recently.—
David Faris,
Newsweek,
3 Feb. 2025
Adjective
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Unlike phishing campaigns targeting the entire workforce, red team exercises often involve precise objectives or trophies, such as gaining access to a critical system or sensitive data.—
Lauren Carpenter,
USA TODAY,
30 Jan. 2025
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Young people are particularly sensitive to their surroundings as their brains evaluate the environment to prepare them for independence.—
Yalda T. Uhls,
The Conversation,
30 Jan. 2025
Adjective
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Key Ingredients: Basil leaf hairy root blend, sunflower oil, baobab oil Type: Pre-wash oil Best For: Dry scalp, product build-up, all hair textures Size: 3 oz.—
Conçetta Ciarlo,
Vogue,
1 Feb. 2025
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However, plants with hairy leaves or plants in soilless mixes may do better by being watered from the bottom.—
Mary Marlowe Leverette,
Southern Living,
24 Jan. 2025
Adjective
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For example, a swamp white oak or bald-cypress tree can handle the sticky, often wet clay soil common in the Chicago region, but a gray birch needs better drainage.—
Beth Botts,
Chicago Tribune,
2 Feb. 2025
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That may not seem very secure, but sticky stuff is often the best thing for the job.—
David Szondy,
New Atlas,
2 Feb. 2025
Adjective
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Who exactly is going to be part of DOGE is a particularly thorny issue, because there are technically two DOGEs.—
Vittoria Elliott,
WIRED,
24 Jan. 2025
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But a network of colleagues within the same domain with a broad array of experiences and expertise can deepen learning and unlock solutions to thorny problems.—
Ann Kowal Smith,
Forbes,
23 Jan. 2025
Adjective
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Dana, the law professor, sees the contracts Weidner has signed with St. Petersburg and other cities as problematic for exactly that reason.—
Ben Wieder,
Miami Herald,
26 Jan. 2025
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Shedding these microbes onto an exercise mat versus a dumbbell is especially problematic, Tetro said, because exercise mats are like petri dishes.—
Melanie Radzicki McManus,
CNN,
25 Jan. 2025
Adjective
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What is not complicated or open to conjecture is that Miami’s defense would be better with Garrett than without him.—
Greg Cote,
Miami Herald,
3 Feb. 2025
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To make matters more complicated, Sundance’s virtual platform, which has been in place since 2021 and allows those unable to attend in person to view select titles at home, is now under threat thanks to some viewers recording clips and posting them on social media.—
Harrison Richlin,
IndieWire,
2 Feb. 2025
Thesaurus Entries Near spiny
Cite this Entry
“Spiny.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/spiny. Accessed 6 Feb. 2025.
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