形容词

1. (植物、树木)带刺的，多刺的
A thorny plant or tree is covered with thorns.

2. (问题)棘手的，复杂难解的，令人头疼的
If you describe a problem as thorny, you mean that it is very complicated and difficult to solve, and that people are often unwilling to discuss it.

1. having or covered with protective barbs or quills or spines or thorns or setae etc.

e.g. a horse with a short bristly mane
bristly shrubs
burred fruits
setaceous whiskers

Synonym: barbedbarbellatebriarybrierybristledbristlyburredburrypricklysetosesetaceousspiny

2. bristling with perplexities

e.g. the thorny question of states' rights