often attributive
1
2
: a woody plant bearing sharp impeding processes (such as prickles or spines)
especially
: hawthorn
3
: something that causes distress or irritation
—often used in the phrase thorn in one's side
4
: the runic letter þ used in Old English and Middle English to represent either of the fricatives \th\ or \t͟h\ and in Icelandic to represent \th\
Synonyms
Examples of thorn in a Sentence
your constant questions are a thorn in my side
Recent Examples on the Web
Key elements of the upgrade include content aiming to keep consumers on the site for longer, as well as improved guidance on aspects like fit, in a drive to reduce return rates, which have become a thorn in the side for e-commerce players.
—
Alex Wynne, WWD, 27 June 2024
Blackcap thorns aren’t daggerlike in the same way the cockspurs of blackberries can be.
—Noah Davis, The Christian Science Monitor, 20 June 2024
Doocy, who covered President Biden’s campaign in 2020 and continued in the White House, has long been something of a thorn in the side of Biden’s press team, occasionally sparring during briefings with press secretary Karine jean-Pierre, and before that Jen Psaki.
—Alex Weprin, The Hollywood Reporter, 17 June 2024
Blake having a fraught past with Erin Strauss is an intriguing development for longtime fans who often saw the Section Chief as a thorn in the team's side in a season that ends with Strauss' death at the hands of the season's Big Bad, The Replicator.
—Alamin Yohannes, EW.com, 10 June 2024
See all Example Sentences for thorn 
Alex Wynne, WWD, 27 June 2024
Blackcap thorns aren’t daggerlike in the same way the cockspurs of blackberries can be.
—Noah Davis, The Christian Science Monitor, 20 June 2024
Doocy, who covered President Biden’s campaign in 2020 and continued in the White House, has long been something of a thorn in the side of Biden’s press team, occasionally sparring during briefings with press secretary Karine jean-Pierre, and before that Jen Psaki.
—Alex Weprin, The Hollywood Reporter, 17 June 2024
Blake having a fraught past with Erin Strauss is an intriguing development for longtime fans who often saw the Section Chief as a thorn in the team's side in a season that ends with Strauss' death at the hands of the season's Big Bad, The Replicator.
—Alamin Yohannes, EW.com, 10 June 2024
See all Example Sentences for thorn
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'thorn.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
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Cite this Entry
“Thorn.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/thorn. Accessed 15 Jul. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
thorn
noun1
: a woody plant bearing sharp processes (as prickles or spines)
especially
: hawthorn
2
: a sharp stiff process on a plant
especially
: a stem modified into a short, stiff, and leafless sharp point
3
: something or someone that causes distress or irritation
—often used in the phrase thorn in one's side
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