thorny
12 synonyms and 1 antonym for thorny, grouped by meaning and by how common each one is.
Adj — Covered in or bearing thorns or spines.
Synonyms
Rare, literary or technical
Precise, but they will stand out — check the sense before using one.
Synonyms by Meaning
1. adj
Covered in or bearing thorns or spines.
“The gardener wore thick gloves to handle the thorny rose bushes.”
2. adj
Difficult, complicated, or likely to cause disagreement.
“Immigration remains a thorny issue in national politics.”
Opposites
How to use thorny
The word patterns that sound natural to a native speaker.
a thorny issue
thorny problem
thorny question
Etymology
From Old English þorniġ, built from thorn plus the adjective-forming suffix -y.
Full origin of thorny →Frequently asked questions
What does “thorny” mean?
The word “thorny” means covered in or bearing thorns or spines. In plain terms, literally full of thorns, or figuratively a tricky problem that's hard to handle without upsetting someone.
How do you pronounce “thorny”?
“Thorny” is pronounced THAW-nee (/ˈθɔɹni/ in IPA).
How do you use “thorny” in a sentence?
Here is “thorny” used in a sentence: “The gardener wore thick gloves to handle the thorny rose bushes.”
What part of speech is “thorny”?
“Thorny” is an adjective.
Where does the word “thorny” come from?
The word “thorny” comes from Old English. From Old English þorniġ, built from thorn plus the adjective-forming suffix -y.
How many meanings does “thorny” have?
“Thorny” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: covered in or bearing thorns or spines.
