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Definition of thorny

thorny

/ˈθɔːrni/
thor · ny
Adverb:thornily
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thorny Lexical Profile

thorny Game Scores & Validity

• adjective

1

Causing distress, difficulty, or controversy; complex and hard to resolve.

Example

"The committee spent several hours debating the thorny issue of how to allocate the limited research funding."

2

Having many thorns or sharp, prickly projections.

Example

"The gardener wore thick leather gloves to prune the thorny rosebushes along the fence."

Synonyms
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Antonyms
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• Rhymes for thorny

• Nearby Words

thornless
thornlike
thorntree
thorny
thorny devil
thornyhead
thorough

Word Origin & Etymology

From Old English 'þornig', derived from 'þorn' (thorn) and the suffix '-ig' (-y). The figurative sense of "painful, troublesome, or full of difficulties" has been in use since the Old English period.

Cite this Entry

Wordmom. (2026). Definition of Thorny. In Wordmom Dictionary. Retrieved Nov 5, 2026, from https://wordmom.com/dictionary/thorny
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