thorny

[thawr-nee]

adjective

thornier, thorniest 

1. abounding in or characterized by thorns; spiny; prickly.

2. thornlike.

3. overgrown with thorns or brambles.

4. painful; vexatious.

   a thorny predicament.

5. full of difficulties, complexities, or controversial points.

   a thorny question.

   Synonyms: ticklish, sticky, tough

thorny

/ ˈθɔːnɪ /

adjective

1. bearing or covered with thorns

2. difficult or unpleasant

   a thorny problem

3. sharp

Other Word Forms

• thornily adverb
• thorniness noun
• unthorny adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of thorny¹

before 1000; Middle English; Old English thornig. See thorn, -y ¹

Example Sentences

A Reform government could indeed do so - although it would lead to some thorny legal problems if a lots of other laws linked to both were not unpicked at the same time.

From BBC

Despite its thorny psychology, “Lurker” strips its characters of everything but a scrap of backstory.

From Los Angeles Times

But Mr Wilkins tends to avoid the thornier issues on his feed.

From BBC

Froehlich keenly showcases what friendship looks like at this stage of life without sacrificing those thorny parts of ourselves that remain, no matter how ashamed we are.

From Salon

All three universities have sparked controversy over their handling of pro-Palestinian encampments last year and how leaders navigated thorny questions about the line between verboten antisemitism and free speech.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• awkward 
• bothersome 
• irksome 
• nettlesome 
• perplexing 
• prickly 
• sticky 
• ticklish 
• tricky 
• troublesome 
• unpleasant