spiny
Full of barbs
Spiny means covered with or having spines—sharp, rigid projections like thorns or quills.
A spiny sea urchin bristles with needle-like protrusions.
Spiny lobsters have rough, pointed shells.
The word extends to anything prickly or difficult to handle: a spiny problem, spiny negotiations.
Having sharp protrusions
- pricklySpiny or irritable
- barbedHaving sharp projections
- bristlyCovered with stiff hairs
- spikyHaving sharp projections
pointed · needle-like · quilled · spicule
Having sharp protrusions
- knottyComplex and difficult
- pricklySpiny or irritable
- nettlesomeCausing annoyance or difficulty
- vexingCausing mild torment
problematic · contentious · tricky · awkward · sensitive · delicate · complicated · troublesome
Spiny desert plant
- thistleSpiny flowering weed
- brambleThorny wild shrub
- briarThorny shrub or bush
- roseStood up, or fragrant bloom
hawthorn · acacia · honey locust · blackthorn · gorse · bougainvillea · agave · yucca
Spiny nocturnal mammal
- porcupineBarbed defensive rodent
- echidnaEgg-laying spined mammal
- sea urchinSpiny marine echinoderm
- lionfishVenomous striped reef fish
stonefish · scorpionfish · horned lizard · armadillo · crown-of-thorns
Protective combat covering
- quillsHollow defensive animal spikes
- spinesStiff, pointed projections
- barbsSharp points or jibes
- deterrentThing that discourages action
predator · protection · warning · impenetrable · unapproachable · hostile · fortified · defensive
thorny
Having sharp protrusions
spiky · pointed · needle-like · quilled · spicule
thorny
Having sharp protrusions
- knottyComplex and difficult
- pricklySpiny or irritable
- nettlesomeCausing annoyance or difficulty
vexing · problematic · contentious · tricky · awkward · sensitive · delicate · complicated · troublesome · controversial
cactus
Spiny desert plant
rose · hawthorn · acacia · honey locust · blackthorn · gorse · bougainvillea · agave · yucca · holly
hedgehog
Spiny nocturnal mammal
- porcupineBarbed defensive rodent
- echidnaEgg-laying spined mammal
- sea urchinSpiny marine echinoderm
lionfish · stonefish · scorpionfish · horned lizard · armadillo · crown-of-thorns
armor
Protective combat covering
deterrent · predator · protection · warning · impenetrable · unapproachable · hostile · fortified · defensive · repellent
- stipulesfree, lateral, sheathing, connate, scale-like
- texturessmoothness, smooth, soft, rough, roughness
- shellsseashells, sea shells, shell, clam, oyster
- plant traitsthorny, evergreen, deciduous, flowering, perennial
- Insect Traitssix-legged, winged, antennae, exoskeleton, segmented
- reptile traitsscaly, cold-blooded, slithering, forked tongue, shedding skin
spinyeasy
Requiring minimal effort
straightforward · simple · uncomplicated · unproblematic · effortless
- sent shivers down someone's spineCaused intense fear reaction
- spinal cordBrain's extension through vertebrae
- down the spine
- spinal tapCerebrospinal fluid sampling procedure
- spinal injuryTrauma to vertebral column
- spinal columnSegmented skeletal axis