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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
One of the thorniest recent issues for these senators was their decisions on some of Trump’s most controversial nominees, including Hegseth, Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and FBI Director Kash Patel.
—
Jared Gans, The Hill, 1 Apr. 2025
When he was first announced as USC’s starting quarterback last November, Jayden Maiava stepped into a pretty thorny situation.
—Houston Mitchell, Los Angeles Times, 27 Mar. 2025
That momentum continues today with the announcement of a $21 million Series A by Layer Health, an ambitious healthcare AI startup aiming to tackle some of the sector’s thorniest issues and overcome the industry’s biggest barriers to growth.
—Seth Joseph, Forbes.com, 27 Mar. 2025
This issue — allowing House members who recently had children to vote by proxy — is politically thorny, with Johnson positioning himself firmly against allowing any form of proxy voting.
—Andrew Solender, Axios, 25 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for thorny
Jared Gans, The Hill, 1 Apr. 2025
When he was first announced as USC’s starting quarterback last November, Jayden Maiava stepped into a pretty thorny situation.
—Houston Mitchell, Los Angeles Times, 27 Mar. 2025
That momentum continues today with the announcement of a $21 million Series A by Layer Health, an ambitious healthcare AI startup aiming to tackle some of the sector’s thorniest issues and overcome the industry’s biggest barriers to growth.
—Seth Joseph, Forbes.com, 27 Mar. 2025
This issue — allowing House members who recently had children to vote by proxy — is politically thorny, with Johnson positioning himself firmly against allowing any form of proxy voting.
—Andrew Solender, Axios, 25 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for thorny
Recent Examples of Synonyms for thorny
Adjective
-
The result of billions of years of micrometeorite impacts on the lunar surface and lack of water on the Moon has left this dust with jagged, razor-sharp shapes and the constant bombardment by cosmic rays has given each particle an electrostatic charge.—
David Szondy,
New Atlas,
1 Apr. 2025
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Rescue workers in other parts of the country dug through piles of twisted rebar and jagged concrete where buildings had been destroyed.—
Sui-Lee Wee,
New York Times,
28 Mar. 2025
Adjective
-
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
-
The designer teased that there will be sultry, body-hugging looks with prickly prints and comfy, padded pieces.—
Tianwei Zhang,
WWD,
25 Mar. 2025
-
Zegler brings a fresh, prickly energy to the timeless character.—
Staff Author,
EW.com,
22 Mar. 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
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That’s likely a tough pill to swallow for Gomez, who typically launches her albums at No. 1.—
Hugh McIntyre,
Forbes.com,
4 Apr. 2025
Adjective
-
Warm beverages with cannabis extracts may soothe scratchy throats while providing hydration.—
Tribune Content Agency,
Mercury News,
3 Apr. 2025
-
Scratchy or Sore Throat The common cold can cause a scratchy or sore throat (pharyngitis), which usually resolves on its own within one week.—
Lauren Schlanger,
Verywell Health,
3 Apr. 2025
Adjective
-
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
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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
Adjective
-
Building a Sustainable Future Compression of organizational hierarchies isn't inherently problematic, but the failure to address the human and operational needs that middle managers traditionally meet certainly is.—
Tracy Lawrence,
Forbes.com,
8 Apr. 2025
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This is especially problematic if, in these precarious times, their contacts are all similar to them.—
John W. Dean,
MSNBC Newsweek,
7 Apr. 2025
Adjective
-
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
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Any hedge fund or investment bank with an ability to do some complicated hedges is in a position to jump into the fray.—
William Baldwin,
Forbes.com,
4 Apr. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Thorny.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/thorny. Accessed 16 Apr. 2025.
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