THORNS Synonyms: 57 Similar and Opposite Words

thorns

noun

plural of thorn

as in headaches

something that is a source of irritation your constant questions are a thorn in my side

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Recent Examples of thorns Keep in mind that rose stems are often armed with sharp prickles, not thorns. — Michele Laufik, Martha Stewart, 25 Aug. 2026 Their kickers’ health and performance for years have been one of the thorns in the team’s side. — Pat Leonard, New York Daily News, 13 Aug. 2026 In many species, the pronotum extends over the body to form elaborate shapes that resemble thorns, buds, or other plant structures, providing excellent camouflage. — Markis Hill, Kansas City Star, 9 Aug. 2026 These networks used to buffer against isolation and economic displacement—the thorns of modern life that make partnership more valuable yet love more difficult to find. — Faith Hill, The Atlantic, 3 Aug. 2026 Blackthorn salt was filtered through something called a tower of thorns. — Literary Hub, 22 July 2026 Worst of all, these trees have become invasive, crossing with other Callery cultivars to create wild hybrids that produce four-inch-long thorns. — Arricca Elin Sansone, Southern Living, 15 July 2026 And as Jones notes, much of that is due to the actors who’ve thrown themselves into the characters, thorns and all. — Hannah Giorgis Yohannes, Vanity Fair, 13 July 2026 Later, after a half-day tour to the nearby towns of Lampa and Pucará, the team made magic again, with a lunch in a forest of towering Puya raimondii, otherworldly bromeliads with thorns like piranha teeth. — Chris Schalkx, Travel + Leisure, 4 July 2026

Recent Examples of Synonyms for thorns

Noun

Tibbetts says the fires have already created plenty of logistics headaches.

— Anya Kamenetz, Curbed, 28 Aug. 2026
But nightmare headaches and blood pressure spikes from her teenage years came back at age 24.

— Maggie Menderski, Louisville Courier Journal, 28 Aug. 2026

Definition of headaches

Noun

But our frustrations and inconvenience pale in comparison to the sadness of those who knew the deceased or to the trauma the drivers involved experienced.

— Doug Turnbull, AJC.com, 30 Aug. 2026
One year before his triumph in the 2026 US Open, Clark missed the cut at the same tournament and took his frustrations out on the Oakmont Country Club locker room, causing enough damage that the famous club outside Pittsburgh banned him for life.

— Kyle Feldscher, CNN Money, 27 Aug. 2026

Definition of frustrations

Noun

Others argued that the report seems to cast members of the media as nuisances to be dealt with, while ignoring instances in which journalists were targeted by law enforcement.

— Libor Jany, Los Angeles Times, 12 Aug. 2026
The Kansas City City Council approved a trio of ordinances on Thursday aimed at vacant properties that become nuisances and staving off demolition of historic buildings.

— Chris Higgins, Kansas City Star, 1 Aug. 2026

Definition of nuisances

Noun

Carney also said that Washington viewed protections for French and Canadian culture — considered fundamental rights in Canada — as irritants to trade.

— ABC News, ABC News, 26 Aug. 2026
For many of us, these little irritants make screen-cleaning an easy chore to remember.

— Kate Van Pelt, The Spruce, 23 Aug. 2026

Definition of irritants

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thorniness

thorns

thorny

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“Thorns.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/thorns. Accessed 1 Sep. 2026.

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Synonyms of thorns

noun

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