1
2
as in difficult
requiring exceptional skill or caution in performance or handling
the candidate tried to avoid discussing his views on the thorny issue
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of thorny
Pass over Brzezinski, and ownership will push the chips in on a bet similar to the hire of Kwesi Adofo-Mensah, where an executive enters a building with many thorny dynamics.
—
Alec Lewis, New York Times, 22 May 2026
Other potentially thorny negotiations are ahead, including the agreement with LA28 about reimbursement to the city for enhanced resources, such as the costs incurred for extra police, sanitation and other city services needed for the Olympics.
—The Editorial Board, Daily News, 20 May 2026
The more urgent and thornier question is which version of AI Hollywood is actually talking about — and whether the industry has the sophistication, or the will, to tell the difference.
—Scott Roxborough, HollywoodReporter, 19 May 2026
The companies need approval from at least six regulators including state utility commissioners, in some cases appointed by governors and state legislators who are themselves trying to manage thorny AI politics.
—Rohan Goswami, semafor.com, 18 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for thorny
Alec Lewis, New York Times, 22 May 2026
Other potentially thorny negotiations are ahead, including the agreement with LA28 about reimbursement to the city for enhanced resources, such as the costs incurred for extra police, sanitation and other city services needed for the Olympics.
—The Editorial Board, Daily News, 20 May 2026
The more urgent and thornier question is which version of AI Hollywood is actually talking about — and whether the industry has the sophistication, or the will, to tell the difference.
—Scott Roxborough, HollywoodReporter, 19 May 2026
The companies need approval from at least six regulators including state utility commissioners, in some cases appointed by governors and state legislators who are themselves trying to manage thorny AI politics.
—Rohan Goswami, semafor.com, 18 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for thorny
Recent Examples of Synonyms for thorny
Adjective
-
The humble insects, which have jagged wings and fuzzy, thick legs, migrate every year from the Sierra Nevada to warmer coastal areas in winter, laying eggs which grow into caterpillars and eventually new butterflies.—
Paul Rogers,
Mercury News,
26 May 2026
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Seismic images of mid-ocean ridges typically show rough and jagged terrain, formed when lava oozes up into the cold ocean along faults or fissures and hardens suddenly into stone.—
Quanta Magazine,
Quanta Magazine,
26 May 2026
Adjective
-
That was so tragic, so difficult for Prince William and Prince Harry which has stayed with them.—
Stephen Schaefer,
Boston Herald,
31 May 2026
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Every business leader waiting for a difficult market to come around should pay attention to what happened in Seoul.—
Bill Schiffmiller,
Forbes.com,
31 May 2026
Adjective
-
Plant it near tomatoes, squash and strawberries—its prickly leaves deter insect pests.—
Barbara Gillette,
The Spruce,
26 May 2026
-
Early in his career, Busch could be a prickly character on the track and with the media.—
Jim Clash,
Forbes.com,
25 May 2026
Adjective
-
Management has partly attributed the membership slowdown to tougher comparisons from a year earlier, but there’s more to the story.—
Paulina Likos,
CNBC,
28 May 2026
-
The California Assembly on Thursday overwhelming voted in favor of a bill that would prohibit children under 16 years old from having a social media account, setting up what is likely to continue to be a tough battle over the coming months.—
Stephen Hobbs,
Sacbee.com,
28 May 2026
Adjective
-
Plus, Amazon hasn’t skimped on quality with a largely cotton construction that’s comfortable to wear without feeling scratchy or rigid.—
Merrell Readman,
Travel + Leisure,
19 May 2026
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Then came Tom Brady, who walked out on stage at first with a scratchy microphone that quickly corrected itself.—
Michael Schneider,
Variety,
11 May 2026
Adjective
-
Exfoliating sensitive skin, like mine, is a delicate dance.—
Christina Oehler,
InStyle,
31 May 2026
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With that in mind, the experts advise introducing the formula gradually, especially for those with sensitive skin.—
Rosa Jisoo Pyo,
Vogue,
31 May 2026
Adjective
-
Oil prices have risen, but the market continues to behave as though the disruption will be resolved before inventories become truly problematic.—
Robert Rapier,
Forbes.com,
1 June 2026
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Certain foods, like fruit or milk, that naturally have carbs present are not problematic.—
Jennifer Lefton,
Verywell Health,
1 June 2026
Adjective
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Removing barriers for non-traditional students like prohibitive costs or complicated admissions and financial aid processes is one way to improve access, said Lane, who helps create the commission’s enrollment reports.—
Elizabeth Hernandez,
Denver Post,
31 May 2026
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Several of them had taken part in the complicated 2018 cave rescue in northern Thailand of 12 schoolboys and their soccer coach.—
Jintamas Saksornchai,
Los Angeles Times,
30 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Thorny.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/thorny. Accessed 4 Jun. 2026.
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