Word forms: comparative thornier, superlative thorniest
1. adjective [usually ADJECTIVE noun]
A thorny plant or tree is covered with thorns.
...thorny hawthorn trees.
Synonyms: prickly, spiky, spiny, pointed More Synonyms of thorny
2. adjective [usually ADJECTIVE noun]
If you describe a problem as thorny, you mean that it is very complicated and difficult to solve, and that people are often unwilling to discuss it.
...the thorny issue of immigration policy.
It is essential that we tackle this thorny problem.
Synonyms: troublesome, difficult, problematic(al), trying More Synonyms of thorny
thorny in British English
(ˈθɔːnɪ)
adjectiveWord forms: thornier or thorniest
1.
bearing or covered with thorns
2.
difficult or unpleasant
a thorny problem
3.
sharp
Derived forms
thornily (ˈthornily)
adverb
thorniness (ˈthorniness)
noun
thorny in American English
(ˈθɔrni)
adjectiveWord forms: ˈthornier or ˈthorniest
1.
full of thorns; brambly; prickly
2.
having thorns or spines
said of some animals
3.
like a thorn; sharp
4.
full of obstacles, vexations, pain, etc.
the thorny road to peace
5.
full of controversial points; difficult; contentious
a thorny problem
Derived forms
thorniness (ˈthorniness)
noun
Examples of 'thorny' in a sentence
thorny
The cat stayed there all afternoon, walking around the thorny mass which held the snake, spitting at it, hissing at it, miaowing.
Doris Lessing ON CATS (2002)
Mary, he'd soon discovered, was a keen believer in treading the thorny path.
Mark Mills AMAGANSETT (2002)
Eventually, he got up, went to the entrance and parted the thorny brush carefully, listening.
Thomas, Craig THE LAST RAVEN (2002)
They sparkled like yellow diamonds, and embers of blood, and thorny stars.
Gregory Maguire WICKED: THE LIFE AND TIMES OF THE WICKED WITCH OF THE WEST (2002)
In other languages
thorny
British English: thorny ADJECTIVE
plant A thorny plant or tree is covered with thorns.
...thorny hawthorn trees.
American English: thorny
Brazilian Portuguese: espinhoso
Chinese: 带刺的
European Spanish: espinoso
French: épineux
German: dornig
Italian: spinoso
Japanese: とげのある
Korean: 가시가 많은
European Portuguese: espinhoso
Latin American Spanish: espinoso
British English: thorny ADJECTIVE
problem If you describe a problem as thorny, you mean that it is very complicated and difficult to solve, and that people are often unwilling to discuss it.
...the thorny issue of immigration policy.
American English: thorny
Brazilian Portuguese: espinhoso
Chinese: 棘手的
European Spanish: espinoso
French: épineux
German: heikel
Italian: spinoso
Japanese: 厄介な
Korean: 곤란한
European Portuguese: espinhoso
Latin American Spanish: espinoso
1 (adjective)
Definition
covered with thorns
thorny hawthorn trees
Synonyms
prickly
The grass was prickly and damp.
spiky
tall, spiky evergreen trees
spiny
low spiny bushes of sage
pointed
the pointed end of the chisel
sharp
sharp-toed cowboy boots
barbed
The factory was surrounded by barbed wire.
bristly
a plant with bristly pale stems and hairy toothed leaves
spinous
bristling with thorns
2 (adjective)
Definition
difficult or unpleasant
the thorny issue of immigration policy
Synonyms
troublesome
The economy has become a troublesome problem for the party.
difficult
I had a feeling you were going to be difficult about this.
problematic(al)
trying
The whole business has been very trying.
hard
That's a very hard question.
worrying
tough
Whoever wins the election is going to have a tough job.
upsetting
awkward
There was an awkward moment when people had to decide where to stand.
unpleasant
They tolerated what they felt was an unpleasant situation.
sticky (informal)
He found himself in a not inconsiderably sticky situation.
harassing
irksome
the irksome regulations
ticklish
the ticklish question of the future of the EU
vexatious
the vexatious behaviour of petty-minded officials
Additional synonyms
in the sense of awkward
Definition
embarrassing
There was an awkward moment when people had to decide where to stand.
Synonyms
embarrassing,
difficult,
compromising,
sensitive,
embarrassed,
painful,
distressing,
delicate,
uncomfortable,
tricky,
trying,
humiliating,
unpleasant,
sticky (informal),
troublesome,
perplexing,
disconcerting,
inconvenient,
thorny,
untimely,
ill at ease,
discomfiting,
ticklish,
inopportune,
toe-curling (slang),
barro (Australian, slang),
cringeworthy (British, informal),
cringe-making (British, informal)
in the sense of barbed
The factory was surrounded by barbed wire.
Synonyms
spiked,
pointed,
toothed,
hooked,
notched,
prickly,
jagged,
thorny,
pronged,
spiny,
snaggy
in the sense of bristly
a plant with bristly pale stems and hairy toothed leaves
Synonyms
prickly,
barbed,
thorny,
spiny,
brambly,
briery
Nearby words of
thorny
thorax
thorn
thorn in your side
thorny
thorough
thoroughbred
thoroughfare
Synonyms of 'thorny'
thorny
Explore 'thorny' in the dictionary
Additional synonyms
in the sense of difficult
Definition
not easily pleased or satisfied
I had a feeling you were going to be difficult about this.
Synonyms
troublesome,
trying,
awkward,
demanding,
rigid,
stubborn,
perverse,
fussy,
tiresome,
intractable,
fastidious,
fractious,
unyielding,
obstinate,
intransigent,
unmanageable,
unbending,
uncooperative,
hard to please,
refractory,
obstreperous,
pig-headed,
bull-headed,
unaccommodating,
unamenable
in the sense of hard
Definition
difficult to do or understand
That's a very hard question.
Synonyms
difficult,
involved,
complex,
complicated,
puzzling,
tangled,
baffling,
intricate,
perplexing,
impenetrable,
thorny,
knotty,
unfathomable,
ticklish
in the sense of irksome
Definition
annoying or tiresome
the irksome regulations
Synonyms
irritating,
trying,
annoying,
aggravating (informal),
troublesome,
unwelcome,
exasperating,
tiresome,
vexing,
disagreeable,
burdensome,
wearisome,
bothersome,
vexatious
in the sense of pointed
Definition
having a sharp tip
the pointed end of the chisel
Synonyms
sharp,
edged,
acute,
barbed,
acicular (rare),
acuminate,
cuspidate (rare),
mucronate (rare)
in the sense of sharp
Definition
tapering to an edge or point
sharp-toed cowboy boots
Synonyms
pointed,
tapering,
tapered,
spiky,
pointy
in the sense of spiky
tall, spiky evergreen trees
Synonyms
prickly,
barbed,
spiny,
bristly,
thorny,
brambly,
briery
in the sense of spiny
Definition
(of animals or plants) covered with spines
low spiny bushes of sage
Synonyms
prickly,
barbed,
thorny,
bristly,
brambly,
briery
in the sense of sticky
Definition
difficult or painful
He found himself in a not inconsiderably sticky situation.
Synonyms
difficult,
awkward,
tricky,
embarrassing,
painful,
nasty,
delicate,
unpleasant,
discomforting,
hairy (slang),
thorny,
barro (Australian, slang)
in the sense of ticklish
Definition
delicate or difficult
the ticklish question of the future of the EU
Synonyms
difficult,
sensitive,
delicate,
tricky,
nice,
critical,
uncertain,
awkward,
risky,
unstable,
thorny,
touchy,
unsteady
in the sense of tough
Definition
difficult or troublesome to do or deal with
Whoever wins the election is going to have a tough job.
Synonyms
hard,
difficult,
exhausting,
troublesome,
uphill,
strenuous,
arduous,
thorny,
laborious,
irksome
Additional synonyms
in the sense of trying
Definition
upsetting, difficult, or annoying
The whole business has been very trying.
Synonyms
annoying,
hard,
taxing,
difficult,
tough,
upsetting,
irritating,
fatiguing,
stressful,
aggravating (informal),
troublesome,
exasperating,
arduous,
tiresome,
vexing,
irksome,
wearisome,
bothersome
in the sense of unpleasant
Definition
not pleasant or agreeable
They tolerated what they felt was an unpleasant situation.