thornless
Lacking sharp protrusions
Thornless describes plants that lack thorns or spines, either naturally or through selective breeding: thornless blackberry varieties, a thornless rose bush.
The word applies most often to cultivated plants bred for easier handling.
Figuratively, thornless can describe anything stripped of its difficult or painful aspects: a thornless path to success.
Lacking courage or resolve
- barblessWithout backward-pointing spikes
- softYielding to touch
- unarmedHaving no weapons
- bluntDull or tactlessly direct
rounded · sleek · touchable · handleable · child-safe · pet-friendly
Stood up, or fragrant bloom
- blackberryAggregate fruit from thorny canes
- raspberryAggregate bramble fruit
- cultivarBred plant variety
- hybridThing of mixed parentage
variety · cactus · bougainvillea · barberry · locust · mesquite · acacia · citrus
Improved through nurture
- graftedAttached living tissue
- hybridizedBred from different varieties
- selectedDeliberately chosen
- propagatedSpread or reproduced widely
domesticated · developed · engineered · bred · improved · crossbred · cloned · patented
Causing no injury
- gentleSoft and kind
- protectiveServing to guard
- kid-friendlySafe for young audiences
- worry-freeFree from anxiety
Causing no displeasure
- kindType or caring
- mildModerate in intensity
- approachableEasy to engage with
- welcomingReceiving others warmly
easygoing · unguarded · open · accepting · non-threatening · painless · uncomplicated · trouble-free
spineless
Lacking courage or resolve
blunt · rounded · sleek · touchable · handleable · child-safe · pet-friendly
rose
Stood up, or fragrant bloom
- blackberryAggregate fruit from thorny canes
- raspberryAggregate bramble fruit
- cultivarBred plant variety
hybrid · variety · cactus · bougainvillea · barberry · locust · mesquite · acacia · citrus · gooseberry
cultivated
Improved through nurture
- graftedAttached living tissue
- hybridizedBred from different varieties
- selectedDeliberately chosen
propagated · domesticated · developed · engineered · bred · improved · crossbred · cloned · patented · cold-hardy
harmless
Causing no injury
- gentleSoft and kind
- protectiveServing to guard
- kid-friendlySafe for young audiences
worry-free · forgiving · benign · innocuous · unthreatening
inoffensive
Causing no displeasure
- kindType or caring
- mildModerate in intensity
- approachableEasy to engage with
welcoming · easygoing · unguarded · open · accepting · non-threatening · painless · uncomplicated · trouble-free
- blackberrieswild blackberry, Logan, dewberry, Marion, Himalayan
- plant traitsspiny, evergreen, deciduous, flowering, perennial
- plant mutationsvariegation, chimera, cresting, double flowers, sport
- cultivarscultivar, Honeycrisp, Fuji apple, Gala apple, Granny Smith
- plant breedingcultivar, cross-pollination, hybrid, hybridizer, pollination
thorn, thorny, thorns, dethrone, thorned, enthrone, thorniness, enthronement, dethronement