thorns
Stem's sharp guards
Thorns are sharp, woody projections on plant stems—nature's defense against browsing animals.
Roses, hawthorns, and blackberries bear thorns.
Figuratively, a thorn is a persistent source of irritation: a thorn in my side.
The phrase crown of thorns refers to Christ's crucifixion and, by extension, any painful burden one must bear.
Stood up, or fragrant bloom
- brambleThorny wild shrub
- blackberryAggregate fruit from thorny canes
- raspberryAggregate bramble fruit
- hawthornThorny berry-bearing shrub
acacia · bougainvillea · thistle · cactus · locust · holly · barberry · mesquite
Guarding against harm
- deterrentThing that discourages action
- barrierObstruction preventing passage
- armorProtective combat covering
- guardWatchful defensive attention
repellent · impenetrable · thicket · hedge · bramble · briar · fortification · predator
Hole from penetration
- woundCoiled, or an injury
- scratchSuperficial wound or mark
- lacerationTorn, ragged wound
- stingSharp wound from insect
prick · bleeding · pain · irritation · infection · tetanus · festering · embedded
Something blocking the way
- difficultyState of being hard
- hardshipSuffering from difficult circumstances
- irritationMild anger or inflammation
- nuisanceCause of aggravation
problem · burden · affliction · tribulation · side · flesh · persistent · nagging
Pierce lightly with point
- spikeSharp rise or point
- barbBackward-pointing spike
- needlePointed implement for sewing
- pointExact location or meaning
spine · bristle · quill · prong · tine · spur · splinter · piercing
Sustained experience of distress
- sacrificeGiving up something precious
- crucifixionExecution by cross
- martyrdomSuffering for conviction
- ChristThe anointed savior
passion · crown · biblical · redemption · atonement · persecution · sorrow · religious
rose
Stood up, or fragrant bloom
- brambleThorny wild shrub
- blackberryAggregate fruit from thorny canes
- raspberryAggregate bramble fruit
hawthorn · acacia · bougainvillea · thistle · cactus · locust · holly · barberry · mesquite · gooseberry
protection
Guarding against harm
- deterrentThing that discourages action
- barrierObstruction preventing passage
- armorProtective combat covering
guard · repellent · impenetrable · thicket · hedge · bramble · briar · fortification · predator · browsing
puncture
Hole from penetration
- woundCoiled, or an injury
- scratchSuperficial wound or mark
- lacerationTorn, ragged wound
sting · prick · bleeding · pain · irritation · infection · tetanus · festering · embedded · removal
obstacle
Something blocking the way
- difficultyState of being hard
- hardshipSuffering from difficult circumstances
- irritationMild anger or inflammation
nuisance · problem · burden · affliction · tribulation · side · flesh · persistent · nagging · unwelcome
prick
Pierce lightly with point
point · spine · bristle · quill · prong · tine · spur · splinter · piercing · sharp
suffering
Sustained experience of distress
- sacrificeGiving up something precious
- crucifixionExecution by cross
- martyrdomSuffering for conviction
Christ · passion · crown · biblical · redemption · atonement · persecution · sorrow · religious · sacred
- floraleaves, petals, stems, buds, branches
- plant anatomyroot, stem, leaves, stems, leaf
- sharp pointsneedles, point, pins, tip, spikes
- survival adaptationsmimicry, camouflage, hibernation, venom, poison
- thorny plantsbriar, blackberry, bramble, thistle, brambles
- undergrowthundergrowth, understory, thicket, shrubbery, underbrush
- thorny issues
- crown of thornsBraided barbed headpiece
- thorn in someone's sidePersistent source of irritation
- thorn in side
- thorn bushWoody plant bearing spines
- thorn in the fleshPersistent source of irritation
thorn, thorny, thorned, thorniness, thorniest, thornless, thornbird, thorn tree