— thornily , adv. — thorniness , n.
/thawr"nee/ , adj., thornier, thorniest .
1. abounding in or characterized by thorns; spiny; prickly.
2. thornlike.
3. overgrown with thorns or brambles.
4. painful; vexatious: a thorny predicament.
5. full of difficulties, complexities, or controversial points: a thorny question.
[ bef. 1000; ME; OE thornig. See THORN, -Y 1 ]
Syn. 5. tough, sticky, ticklish, perplexing.