'Thorny' definitions:

Definition of 'thorny'

From: WordNet
adjective
Bristling with perplexities; "the thorny question of states' rights"
adjective
Having or covered with protective barbs or quills or spines or thorns or setae etc.; "a horse with a short bristly mane"; "bristly shrubs"; "burred fruits"; "setaceous whiskers" [syn: barbed, barbellate, briary, briery, bristled, bristly, burred, burry, prickly, setose, setaceous, spiny, thorny]

Definition of 'Thorny'

From: GCIDE
  • Thorny \Thorn"y\, a. [Compar. Thornier; superl. Thorniest.] [Cf. AS. [thorn]orniht.]
  • 1. Full of thorns or spines; rough with thorns; spiny; as, a thorny wood; a thorny tree; a thorny crown. [1913 Webster]
  • 2. Like a thorn or thorns; hence, figuratively, troublesome; vexatious; harassing; perplexing. "The thorny point of bare distress." --Shak. [1913 Webster]
  • The steep and thorny way to heaven. --Shak. [1913 Webster]
  • Thorny rest-harrow (Bot.), rest-harrow.
  • Thorny trefoil, a prickly plant of the genus Fagonia (Fagonia Cretica, etc.). [1913 Webster]