Open Dictionary
mouse here to listen, click to choose/add more
Location: USA
Source: Learn That Word
Profile URL: www.learnthat.org

Are you a native English speaker? How do you pronounce this word?

Thank you for contributing!
upload mp3 file or record now it's easy, promised!

{%type%} Definitions

WordNet 3.0Copyright Princeton University
{%wordnet%}
Definitions.net
{%definitions_com%}

Videos

Short "hint"

adj. - Having or covered with protective barbs or quills or spines or setae etc.; Bristling with perplexities.

edit
Usage examples (38)
  • The thorny question of states' rights
  • Then there are animals that get tangled up in thorny or spiky vegetation.
  • Especially interesting will be how Biden may be willing to take on a certain thorny issue, spoken in low whispers now.
  • There is no situation, however thorny, which is not saved by politeness.
...click for more
Tutoring comment


Tutoring comment not yet available...

add more
The Open Dictionary of English is a collaborative project, based on Open Source materials, LearnThat resources, and partner APIs.
We give special thanks to our LearnThat volunteers, as well as Princeton University and Wiktionary for their Open Source word data. We're also grateful for the support given by Google, Wordnik.com, Dictionary.com, Stands4.com and YouTube, OEDILF.com, Kylescholz.com, Best-Practice.com, Forvo.com, as well as the generous Creative Commons community.