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as in difficult
requiring exceptional skill or caution in performance or handling
the candidate tried to avoid discussing his views on the thorny issue
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of thorny
The climate crisis is a big, thorny problem that demands nuance and thoughtful reflection.
—
Sammy Roth, Los Angeles Times, 15 May 2025
The cases have raised thorny legal questions about jurisdiction as well as First Amendment rights to free speech, which extend to both citizens and noncitizens under the US Constitution.
—Gloria Pazmino, CNN Money, 14 May 2025
Join Our Other Game Discussions Want to be part of the conversation about New York Times Games, or maybe get some help with a particularly thorny puzzle?
—Sam Corbin, New York Times, 13 May 2025
The millionaire tax hike suggestion came as House Republicans are rushing to iron out the thorniest portions of President Trump’s legislative agenda together before meeting to advance the bills next week.
—Emily Brooks, The Hill, 10 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for thorny
Sammy Roth, Los Angeles Times, 15 May 2025
The cases have raised thorny legal questions about jurisdiction as well as First Amendment rights to free speech, which extend to both citizens and noncitizens under the US Constitution.
—Gloria Pazmino, CNN Money, 14 May 2025
Join Our Other Game Discussions Want to be part of the conversation about New York Times Games, or maybe get some help with a particularly thorny puzzle?
—Sam Corbin, New York Times, 13 May 2025
The millionaire tax hike suggestion came as House Republicans are rushing to iron out the thorniest portions of President Trump’s legislative agenda together before meeting to advance the bills next week.
—Emily Brooks, The Hill, 10 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for thorny
Recent Examples of Synonyms for thorny
Adjective
-
May 31, 2025 The jagged ridges in the green mountains above Spruce Pine look strange at first, as if they were scratched into the surface by giant claws.—
Mike Belleme,
New York Times,
31 May 2025
-
Especially when exploring all the jagged edges can be as delicious as it has been executed in Sirens.—
Rachel Elspeth Gross,
Forbes.com,
25 May 2025
Adjective
-
But the fact that Schwartzman, in his first film, was given the difficult task of stealing laughs away from a comedy legend, and so often succeeds in doing so, gives him the slight edge.—
Shannon Carlin,
Time,
30 May 2025
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These connections are difficult to make from within, but consultants are trained to see across boundaries.—
Dr. Diane Hamilton,
Forbes.com,
30 May 2025
Adjective
-
And who should pick up Agathe from the ferry but a handsome, prickly Englishman, Oliver (Charlie Anson), the great-great-great-great-grandnephew of Ms. Austen herself.—
Katie Walsh,
Twin Cities,
25 May 2025
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No, the show’s appeal lies in its complicated depiction of bickering and bruising sisters, with prickly performances from Meghann Fahy and Milly Alcock giving the series an alluring and distinguishing jolt.—
Roxana Hadadi,
Vulture,
22 May 2025
Adjective
-
This is a time for doing the tough, often unglamorous job of making the city function for all New Yorkers.—
Scott Stringer,
New York Daily News,
3 June 2025
-
Their final test is the toughest in a rematch with the Edmonton Oilers, the same team that just last year took them to seven games in the Stanley Cup Final before the Panthers ultimately prevailed.—
Jordan McPherson,
Miami Herald,
3 June 2025
Adjective
-
This one attaches easily to your carry-on and spares you from those scratchy airline blankets.—
Rosie Marder,
Travel + Leisure,
30 May 2025
-
For example, dry air, smoking, or exposure to secondhand smoke often lead to a scratchy throat and hoarseness.—
Laura Dorwart,
Verywell Health,
12 May 2025
Adjective
-
Tian also allegedly sent additional sensitive data on U.S. weapons systems.—
Adam Sabes,
FOXNews.com,
30 May 2025
-
Moreover, data tokenization or de-identification allows sensitive information (like PII or health records) to be replaced with non-sensitive surrogates, reducing risk without compromising analytics.—
Shinoy Vengaramkode Bhaskaran,
Forbes.com,
30 May 2025
Adjective
-
The comment was in answer to how Friends, in its second resurgence in the streaming era, was receiving some criticism for some of its problematic elements, i.e. the lack of diversity, homophobia, sexism, etc.—
Stephanie Sengwe,
People.com,
7 June 2025
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All signs point to some problematic visitors heading to Wellsbury in season 4.—
EW.com,
EW.com,
6 June 2025
Adjective
-
Since then, however, there have been new revelations in their complicated family dynamics.—
Jordana Comiter,
People.com,
3 June 2025
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But every one of those steps was much more complicated for abelian surfaces.—
Joseph Howlett,
Quanta Magazine,
2 June 2025
Cite this Entry
“Thorny.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/thorny. Accessed 10 Jun. 2025.
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