thorny

UK /ˈθɔːni/ US /ˈθɔɹni/

adj 3

Collocations

ADJ.

sexual, steep

VERB + THORNY

avoid, broaching, need, says, stepping

THORNY + NOUN

acacia, bushes, heaven, native, shrub, shrubs, topics, way

PREP.

during, in, on, up

Definitions

adj

Having thorns or spines.

Tara flour is one of two products made from the seed pods of a thorny shrub native to Peru. One of those, tara gum, has been used safely for years as a thickening agent or stabilizer in human foods.

Troublesome or vexatious.

thorny issues

the steep and thorny way to heaven

Aloof and irritable.

Come, Jo, don't be thorny. After studying himself to a skeleton all the week, a fellow deserves petting, and ought to get it.

Thesaurus

Synonyms

adjective — having or covered with protective barbs or quills or spines

barbed
barbellate
briary
briery
bristled
bristly
burred
burry

Antonyms

Idioms & Phrases

Example Bank

Tara flour is one of two products made from the seed pods of a thorny shrub native to Peru. One of those, tara gum, has been used safely for years as a thickening agent or stabilizer in human foods.

Wiktionary

thorny issues

Wiktionary

the steep and thorny way to heaven

Wiktionary

For giraffes, the thorny acacia leaves are a feast.

Tatoeba · #8557190

Thorny as they are, brambles give blackberries.

Tatoeba · #10041640

Tom brought up a very thorny subject during the barbecue.

Tatoeba · #10681979

Usage Notes

i Register

In some senses, thorny is marked as figuratively, literally. Watch for register when choosing this word.

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