Definition

1. Adjective:
   • Having thorns or spines: Covered with or characterized by sharp, pointed projections that can protect a plant or cause injury.
   • Full of difficulties or controversies: Describing a subject, problem, or situation that is complex, problematic, and hard to resolve.

Examples

• Literal (having thorns):
  • The gardener wore thick gloves to handle the thorny rose bushes.
  • We avoided walking through the thorny undergrowth.
• Figurative (difficult):
  • The committee debated the thorny issue of tax reform for hours.
  • Negotiating the contract presented several thorny problems.

Advanced Usage

• "A thorny path/road": A metaphorical way to describe a course of action filled with obstacles and difficulties.
  • The road to peace in the region has been a long and thorny one.
• "To be thorny with [problems/issues]": To be densely populated with difficulties.
  • The new legislation is thorny with ethical concerns.

Variants and Related Words

• Thorn (n): The sharp, pointed projection itself.
  • She pricked her finger on a thorn.
• Thorniness (n): The quality or state of being thorny, either literally or figuratively.
  • The thorniness of the debate prevented a quick agreement.

Synonyms

• Prickly: Having sharp points; easily irritated or difficult to handle.
• Spiny: Covered with spines.
• Knotty: Intricately difficult or complex.
• Problematic: Posing a problem; difficult to solve.

Related Phrases

• A thorn in one's side/flesh: A persistent source of annoyance or trouble.
  • The unresolved software bug was a thorn in the developer's side for months.
• To sit on thorns: To be in a state of anxiety or discomfort (less common idiom).
  • Waiting for the exam results, he felt like he was sitting on thorns.

Adjective

1. having or covered with protective barbs or quills or spines or thorns or setae etc.
   • a horse with a short bristly mane
   • bristly shrubs
   • burred fruits
   • setaceous whiskers
2. bristling with perplexities
   • the thorny question of states' rights