thornier
Harder to resolve
Thornier is the comparative form of thorny—more covered with thorns, or more problematic and difficult to handle.
A path through brambles may be thornier than expected.
A question becomes thornier when it involves competing values or has no clean answer: The ethical issues get thornier when children are involved.
Difficult to understand
- intricateElaborately detailed, many parts
- knottyComplex and difficult
- convolutedExcessively complex or twisted
- tangledTwisted confusedly together
labyrinthine · byzantine · entangled · involved · perplexing · puzzling · nuanced · multifaceted
Requiring much effort
- arduousDemanding strenuous effort
- toughDurable and strong
- demandingRequiring great effort
- formidableInspiring fear or respect
grueling · strenuous · exacting · laborious · onerous · burdensome · daunting · taxing
Spiny or irritable
- spikyHaving sharp projections
- barbedHaving sharp projections
- bristlyCovered with stiff hairs
- sharpFine-edged, or astute
pointed · jagged · briary · thistly · burred · scratchy · nettled · brambled
Causing public dispute
- divisiveCausing sharp disagreement
- sensitiveEasily affected emotionally
- delicateEasily broken or harmed
- fraughtFull of difficulty
awkward · heated · disputed · polarizing · inflammatory · touchy · sticky · charged
Actively opposed or hostile
- aggressiveHostile and confrontational
- belligerentHostile and eager to clash
- combativeInclined toward conflict
- confrontationalInclined toward hostile encounters
fierce · harsh · adversarial · acrimonious · bitter · rancorous · fractious · ill-tempered
complicated
Difficult to understand
- intricateElaborately detailed, many parts
- knottyComplex and difficult
- convolutedExcessively complex or twisted
tangled · labyrinthine · byzantine · entangled · involved · perplexing · puzzling · nuanced · multifaceted · serpentine
difficult
Requiring much effort
formidable · grueling · strenuous · exacting · laborious · onerous · burdensome · daunting · taxing · troublesome
prickly
Spiny or irritable
sharp · pointed · jagged · briary · thistly · burred · scratchy · nettled · brambled · spiked
controversial
Causing public dispute
- divisiveCausing sharp disagreement
- sensitiveEasily affected emotionally
- delicateEasily broken or harmed
fraught · awkward · heated · disputed · polarizing · inflammatory · touchy · sticky · charged · volatile
antagonistic
Actively opposed or hostile
- aggressiveHostile and confrontational
- belligerentHostile and eager to clash
- combativeInclined toward conflict
confrontational · fierce · harsh · adversarial · acrimonious · bitter · rancorous · fractious · ill-tempered · cantankerous