thorniness
Full of barbs
Thorniness is the quality of being thorny—having sharp projections like a rose bush, or being difficult and contentious like a thorny problem.
The literal sense describes plants with spines or prickles.
The figurative sense captures situations full of complications and sensitivities: The thorniness of the issue kept it off the agenda for years.
Sharp, irritable nature
- testinessEasily provoked irritation
- irritabilityProneness to agitation
- touchinessReadiness to feel slighted
- sensitivityResponsiveness to stimuli
friction · disputatiousness · argumentativeness · quarrelsomeness · combativeness · defensiveness · abrasiveness · acrimony
State of elaborate complexity
- knottinessComplex, tangled quality
- complicationFactor that adds difficulty
- entanglementState of being intertwined
- convolutionTwisting or mathematical integration
nuance · subtlety · perplexity · difficulty · labyrinthine · multifaceted · abstruseness · puzzle
prickliness
Sharp, irritable nature
- testinessEasily provoked irritation
- irritabilityProneness to agitation
- touchinessReadiness to feel slighted
sensitivity · friction · disputatiousness · argumentativeness · quarrelsomeness · combativeness · defensiveness · abrasiveness · acrimony · tartness
intricacy
State of elaborate complexity
- knottinessComplex, tangled quality
- complicationFactor that adds difficulty
- entanglementState of being intertwined
convolution · nuance · subtlety · perplexity · difficulty · labyrinthine · multifaceted · abstruseness · puzzle · conundrum
prickles
Small sharp plant projections
spikes · needles · points · burrs · thistles · brambles · briars · nettles · cacti · roses
thorninesssmoothness
Freedom from irregularity
softness · silkiness · sleekness · fuzziness · glossiness
thorninessstraightforwardness
Quality of being direct
simplicity · easiness · manageability · clarity · obviousness
thorninessamiability
Friendly, agreeable temperament
agreeableness · affability · pleasantness · geniality · warmth