thorny Meaning, Definition & Usage

  1. adjective satellite bristling with perplexities
    • the thorny question of states' rights
  2. adjective satellite having or covered with protective barbs or quills or spines or thorns or setae etc.
    barbed; burry; briary; bristly; briery; setaceous; barbellate; prickly; spiny; burred; setose; bristled.
    • a horse with a short bristly mane
    • bristly shrubs
    • burred fruits
    • setaceous whiskers

WordNet

Thorn"y adjective
Etymology
Cf. AS. þorniht.
Wordforms
comparative Thornier ; superlative Thorniest
Definitions
  1. Full of thorns or spines; rough with thorns; spiny; as, a thorny wood; a thorny tree; a thorny crown.
  2. Like a thorn or thorns; hence, figuratively, troublesome; vexatious; harassing; perplexing. "The thorny point of bare distress." Shak.
    The steep and thorny way to heaven. Shak.

Webster 1913