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
That matters because battery life has been a thorn in the Pixel Watch’s side.
—
Sheena Vasani, The Verge, 18 Jan. 2025
Licensing delays at the Federal Aviation Administration have been a thorn in SpaceX's side for the last couple of years.
—Ars Technica, 16 Jan. 2025
McCarthy’s Packers were also a thorn in Jones’ side in 2014 and 2016, defeating two of Dallas’ top teams of the last 15 years in the playoffs.
—Jon MacHota, The Athletic, 14 Jan. 2025
Basic governance structure was a major sticking point during the Biden administration, and a primary reason Securities and Exchange Commission Chair Gary Gensler was a thorn in the side of the crypto industry.
—Kevin Williams, CNBC, 12 Jan. 2025
See all Example Sentences for thorn 
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Sheena Vasani, The Verge, 18 Jan. 2025
Licensing delays at the Federal Aviation Administration have been a thorn in SpaceX's side for the last couple of years.
—Ars Technica, 16 Jan. 2025
McCarthy’s Packers were also a thorn in Jones’ side in 2014 and 2016, defeating two of Dallas’ top teams of the last 15 years in the playoffs.
—Jon MacHota, The Athletic, 14 Jan. 2025
Basic governance structure was a major sticking point during the Biden administration, and a primary reason Securities and Exchange Commission Chair Gary Gensler was a thorn in the side of the crypto industry.
—Kevin Williams, CNBC, 12 Jan. 2025
See all Example Sentences for thorn
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Dictionary Entries Near thorn
Cite this Entry
“Thorn.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/thorn. Accessed 27 Jan. 2025.
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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