1
as in intricate
having many parts or aspects that are usually interrelated
the knotty problems that arise when every nation is part of the global marketplace
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in difficult
requiring exceptional skill or caution in performance or handling
the candidates cautiously gave their views on an array of knotty issues
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of knotty
Its repositioning also raises questions about how the show will engage with its source material’s knotty narrative structure, while setting up Ellie and Dina’s vital romance for newcomers.
—
Abby Monteil, Them., 14 Apr. 2025
Meanwhile, negotiators on Gaza pushed the knottiest issues to later phases of this agreement.
—Nicholas Kristof, The Mercury News, 28 Jan. 2025
Think knotty-pine headboards, cozy leather furniture with plaid throw pillows, and floor-to-ceiling windows showcasing stellar views of the Rockies.
—Elizabeth Brownfield, Forbes, 1 Mar. 2025
Its moral dimensions are more straightforward than those in Jude’s previous work (and its form much simpler in kind), but only because their practical applications are that much knottier in return.
—David Ehrlich, IndieWire, 19 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for knotty
Abby Monteil, Them., 14 Apr. 2025
Meanwhile, negotiators on Gaza pushed the knottiest issues to later phases of this agreement.
—Nicholas Kristof, The Mercury News, 28 Jan. 2025
Think knotty-pine headboards, cozy leather furniture with plaid throw pillows, and floor-to-ceiling windows showcasing stellar views of the Rockies.
—Elizabeth Brownfield, Forbes, 1 Mar. 2025
Its moral dimensions are more straightforward than those in Jude’s previous work (and its form much simpler in kind), but only because their practical applications are that much knottier in return.
—David Ehrlich, IndieWire, 19 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for knotty
Recent Examples of Synonyms for knotty
Adjective
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The intricate scrollwork along the bottom gives it the nouveau feel, but the bow at the top reads modern.—
Shea Simmons,
Southern Living,
7 June 2025
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The crown’s intricate decorations, including gold beads and jade pieces, highlight the craftsmanship of the era.—
Miami Herald,
Miami Herald,
6 June 2025
Adjective
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Winning a second straight championship will be much more difficult.—
Evan Massey,
MSNBC Newsweek,
30 May 2025
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But the fact that Schwartzman, in his first film, was given the difficult task of stealing laughs away from a comedy legend, and so often succeeds in doing so, gives him the slight edge.—
Shannon Carlin,
Time,
30 May 2025
Adjective
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Since then, however, there have been new revelations in their complicated family dynamics.—
Jordana Comiter,
People.com,
3 June 2025
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But every one of those steps was much more complicated for abelian surfaces.—
Joseph Howlett,
Quanta Magazine,
2 June 2025
Adjective
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This is a time for doing the tough, often unglamorous job of making the city function for all New Yorkers.—
Scott Stringer,
New York Daily News,
3 June 2025
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When staring at twin suns like from much greater distances — many light-years away — astronomers have a much tougher time than young Skywalker in determining two stars from one.—
Robert Lea,
Space.com,
3 June 2025
Adjective
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The moves challenge the traditional U.S. security role and complicate Africa's geopolitical landscape as Washington steps back.—
Amir Daftari,
MSNBC Newsweek,
26 May 2025
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Left unmanaged, these issues can disrupt family dynamics, derail careers, deplete wealth and complicate legacy planning.—
John Samuels,
Forbes.com,
22 Apr. 2025
Adjective
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These searches help keep digital communications and sensitive information safe.—
Jeremiah Bartz,
The Conversation,
30 May 2025
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Moreover, data tokenization or de-identification allows sensitive information (like PII or health records) to be replaced with non-sensitive surrogates, reducing risk without compromising analytics.—
Shinoy Vengaramkode Bhaskaran,
Forbes.com,
30 May 2025
Adjective
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But compelling as the narrative may be at first blush, the realities on the ground—and in the supply chain—paint a far more complex picture.—
Tim Bajarin,
Forbes.com,
3 June 2025
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On the high end of the spectrum, there were leather handbags with complex designs.—
Liz McNeil,
People.com,
3 June 2025
Adjective
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And the story, which finds Foster playing a therapist who becomes convinced that her patient’s suicide is actually a murder, was too tangled and intriguing to turn down.—
Brent Lang,
Variety,
20 May 2025
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At the moment, the tangled web of the Heat’s payroll has far-reaching tentacles.—
Ira Winderman,
Sun Sentinel,
21 May 2025
Cite this Entry
“Knotty.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/knotty. Accessed 10 Jun. 2025.
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