as in difficult
requiring exceptional skill or caution in performance or handling
this promises to be a spiny problem to negotiate
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of spiny
Its canes are reddish in color and covered with spiny thorns.
—
Carl R. Gold, Baltimore Sun, 7 Mar. 2026
But golden spiny mice have made some adaptations that give them a better chance at longer life.
—Mallory Locklear, Hartford Courant, 7 Mar. 2026
To help keep their moisture levels in check and protect themselves from wind, desert plants often have spiny, waxy, or hairy leaves.
—Laura Baisas, Popular Science, 5 Mar. 2026
The physical description evokes a compact, spiny, wide-eyed animal — the kind of species that would stand out immediately in a field encounter.
—Ryan Brennan, Charlotte Observer, 20 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for spiny
Carl R. Gold, Baltimore Sun, 7 Mar. 2026
But golden spiny mice have made some adaptations that give them a better chance at longer life.
—Mallory Locklear, Hartford Courant, 7 Mar. 2026
To help keep their moisture levels in check and protect themselves from wind, desert plants often have spiny, waxy, or hairy leaves.
—Laura Baisas, Popular Science, 5 Mar. 2026
The physical description evokes a compact, spiny, wide-eyed animal — the kind of species that would stand out immediately in a field encounter.
—Ryan Brennan, Charlotte Observer, 20 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for spiny
Recent Examples of Synonyms for spiny
Adjective
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But with the Lightning taking back home-ice advantage with this win and the series shifting back to Tampa, where Cooper will have full control of the matchup, the task becomes that much more difficult for the Suzuki line.—
Arpon Basu,
New York Times,
27 Apr. 2026
-
Tornadoes are extremely difficult to see and confirm at night.—
STAR-TELEGRAM WEATHER BOT,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
26 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
Lightly coated with oil and tossed occasionally in a searing hot skillet or wok, even tough beans turn silky, and ready to coat in a finishing blast of chiles.—
The Bon Appétit Staff,
Bon Appetit Magazine,
1 May 2026
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Comfortable travel can be achieved with stretchy, breathable pants, but securing a pair that hits those marks while looking stylish can be tough.—
Rachel Trujillo,
Travel + Leisure,
30 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
The ability to acquire land in fee simple is essential and, in many cases, the most effective and expedient way to protect sensitive landscapes, especially in rapidly developing areas.—
Susan Carr,
Sun Sentinel,
26 Apr. 2026
-
Eating large amounts or consuming them on an empty stomach may increase the likelihood of discomfort in sensitive individuals.—
Daryl Austin,
USA Today,
26 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
Gardening coach and author Teri Speight says the rabbits in her garden don't bother her tomatoes, noting that this is likely due to their subtle scent and hairy stems.—
Samantha Johnson,
Martha Stewart,
25 Apr. 2026
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Her rock-climbing skills also come in handy when she’s trapped in a narrow gorge, and soon after when a hairy ascent provides echoes of the prologue.—
David Rooney,
HollywoodReporter,
23 Apr. 2026
Adjective
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The worry looming over the economy Earlier this month, Dimon had also warned in his shareholder letter that the war in Iran risks oil and commodity price shocks that could keep inflation sticky and push interest rates higher than the market now expects.—
USA Today,
USA Today,
28 Apr. 2026
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Apollo chief economist Torsten Slok has warned the combination of tariffs, sticky inflation, and slowing growth can create a stagflation-like setup, one that would be hostile to both markets and consumers.—
Tristan Bove,
Fortune,
28 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
This is a particularly thorny issue because Tesla’s appeal as the only stock that allows people to directly bet on Musk is set to erode soon, with the billionaire’s space and rocket company SpaceX targeting an initial public offering later this year.—
Bloomberg,
Mercury News,
22 Apr. 2026
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Surrounded by a strong ensemble under the direction of Georgette Verdin, Nozicka frankly knocks this thorny role out of the park.—
Emily McClanathan,
Chicago Tribune,
20 Apr. 2026
Adjective
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Some content creators are compensated, and this also creates problematic incentives in the system.—
Encyclopedia Britannica,
Encyclopedia Britannica,
27 Apr. 2026
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That’s not just problematic for poorer communities but also for affluent suburbs like Cheshire that get sparse state funding.—
Don Stacom,
Hartford Courant,
27 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
But there are other factors that make calculating the distance of future Artemis missions a little complicated.—
Stephen Clark,
ArsTechnica,
25 Apr. 2026
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Considering the lack of answers from the private lab, Moore believes the hair sample is rootless, which makes identification way more complicated.—
Lizzie Lanuza,
StyleCaster,
25 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Spiny.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/spiny. Accessed 1 May. 2026.
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