1
as in intricate
having many parts or aspects that are usually interrelated
the knotty problems that arise when every nation is part of the global marketplace
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in difficult
requiring exceptional skill or caution in performance or handling
the candidates cautiously gave their views on an array of knotty issues
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Recent Examples of knotty
Both sides have shown willingness to work toward an agreement, but the issues are knotty and a deal is far from a sure thing.
—
Lee Hamilton, Twin Cities, 7 Feb. 2025
Islam likely travelled to the region with Arab traders, but the erasure of earlier worship systems was the result of
a series of knotty events entwined with foreign influences bent on the very existence of the small nation as an integral unit.
—Rob Crossan, JSTOR Daily, 17 Jan. 2025
But simmering backlash to The Brutalist’s knottier second act—and, to a lesser extent, some scuttlebutt regarding the use of AI—could do it in; that the feature peaks about halfway through has become something of a prevailing opinion.
—David Sims, The Atlantic, 23 Jan. 2025
This serum also did wonders for my typically knotty hair around the winter, and hydrated my roots even after just one application and blow dry.
—Alanna Martine Kilkeary, Glamour, 17 Jan. 2025
See All Example Sentences for knotty
Lee Hamilton, Twin Cities, 7 Feb. 2025
Islam likely travelled to the region with Arab traders, but the erasure of earlier worship systems was the result of
a series of knotty events entwined with foreign influences bent on the very existence of the small nation as an integral unit.
—Rob Crossan, JSTOR Daily, 17 Jan. 2025
But simmering backlash to The Brutalist’s knottier second act—and, to a lesser extent, some scuttlebutt regarding the use of AI—could do it in; that the feature peaks about halfway through has become something of a prevailing opinion.
—David Sims, The Atlantic, 23 Jan. 2025
This serum also did wonders for my typically knotty hair around the winter, and hydrated my roots even after just one application and blow dry.
—Alanna Martine Kilkeary, Glamour, 17 Jan. 2025
See All Example Sentences for knotty
Recent Examples of Synonyms for knotty
Adjective
-
The film also incorporates an experimental narrative approach called Deaf Point of View, using impressionistic visual photography and intricate sound design to thrust the audience into the Deaf experience.—
Scott Feinberg,
HollywoodReporter,
7 Apr. 2025
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True to his word, Sharpe has immersed himself in the craft, mastering everything from tasting notes to the intricate distillation processes in Cognac, France.—
Noel Burgess,
Forbes.com,
7 Apr. 2025
Adjective
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Third, operational command of Kamikaze planes is difficult because results cannot be evaluated with any accuracy.—
CBS News,
CBS News,
11 Apr. 2025
-
Instead, the major drama comes in the form of Ivy’s corruption by her acting coach, as Ivy gradually goes method and becomes as difficult to work with as Marilyn was (one of this musical’s many meta moments).—
Christian Lewis,
Variety,
11 Apr. 2025
Adjective
-
Back in 2021, the starlet opened up about those complicated early days following Angel’s birth.—
Elizabeth Ayoola,
Essence,
4 Apr. 2025
-
President Donald Trump’s tariffs aim to bring jobs and factories back to the U.S., but the reality is more complicated.—
Bruce Gil,
Quartz,
4 Apr. 2025
Adjective
-
But the Lotus ladies will have some tough competition, including seven-time winner Allison Janney, two-time winner Patricia Arquette, and potential double nominee Kaitlyn Dever.—
Kristen Baldwin,
EW.com,
4 Apr. 2025
-
What tough lessons does Cole learn through the process of getting involved with a patient this season?—
Max Gao,
Variety,
4 Apr. 2025
Adjective
-
There are extensive drawbacks to using nuclear weapons, including their very destructiveness—which could undermine larger objectives or complicate battlefield operations—and the international backlash that would follow.—
Paul Avey,
Foreign Affairs,
6 Mar. 2025
-
Since the Trump administration took office, environmental activists have feared that certain existing standards could be rolled back and further complicate efforts to clean up American water supplies.—
Sharon Udasin,
The Hill,
26 Feb. 2025
Adjective
-
Concerns have been raised about DOGE operatives, many with ties to Musk's companies, gaining access to sensitive government data without adequate oversight or experience.—
Hannah Parry,
MSNBC Newsweek,
10 Apr. 2025
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Cooling, calming, and tailor-made for sensitive skin, this mask drapes delicately across your face to deliver a serious hit of cica (Centella asiatica) and allantoin—soothing redness and dryness in minutes.—
Annie Blackman,
Allure,
10 Apr. 2025
Adjective
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Faced with an issue so vast and complex, people often respond in four common ways.—
Mark Travers,
Forbes.com,
4 Apr. 2025
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However, for all their visual appeal and seemingly effortless ability to inject color into a watch, setting a dial using hard-stones is a delicate and complex process.—
Milena Lazazzera,
CNN Money,
4 Apr. 2025
Adjective
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In practice, the framework often results in a tangled web of policies, workflows, and manual interventions.—
Tony Bradley,
Forbes.com,
28 Mar. 2025
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The collective tension as the game went on, and the poles became taller and more tangled, made every move exciting.—
James Palmer,
Smithsonian Magazine,
23 Dec. 2024
Cite this Entry
“Knotty.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/knotty. Accessed 16 Apr. 2025.
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