thistly
Covered with barbs
Thistly describes something resembling or abounding in thistles—prickly, thorny, difficult to handle.
A thistly field is overgrown with the spiny plants.
Figuratively, a thistly problem is one that's hard to grasp without getting stung: The committee avoided the thistly question of budget cuts.
Having sharp protrusions
- spinyHaving sharp points
- barbedHaving sharp projections
- bristlyCovered with stiff hairs
- scratchyRough and irritating
sharp · jagged · brambly · nettle · burr · spine · needle · prickle
thorny
Having sharp protrusions
scratchy · sharp · jagged · brambly · nettle · burr · spine · needle · prickle · stinging
weedy
Overgrown with unwanted plants
briar · bramble · thicket · underbrush · scrubby · unkempt · neglected · uncultivated · hedgerow · roadside
Scotland
Northern British nation
national · heraldic · badge · Celtic · Scots · heather · moor · crest · symbol · kilt
- milk thistleHepatoprotective flowering weed
- thistle downFeathery seed dispersal
- thistle seedSpiny wildflower's progeny
- milk thistle teaInfusion from spiny purple plant