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
Commercially, deft handling by discerning arthouse distributors will be required to draw audiences to a knotty, novelistic work that is, in the most rewarding possible way, difficult to package or summarize.
—
Guy Lodge, Variety, 14 May 2025
The thinking was that future leaders of the city’s public schools should be educators rather than business leaders, which past mayors have hired at times to wrestle with CPS’ knotty financial challenges.
—The Editorial Board, Chicago Tribune, 7 May 2025
At the plot-heavy episode’s center is the knotty friendship between June and Janine, who haven’t seen each other since their separation in season four.
—Amanda Whiting, Vulture, 22 Apr. 2025
That voice sits atop dreamy keys and knotty electric guitar.
—Jed Gottlieb, Boston Herald, 3 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for knotty
Guy Lodge, Variety, 14 May 2025
The thinking was that future leaders of the city’s public schools should be educators rather than business leaders, which past mayors have hired at times to wrestle with CPS’ knotty financial challenges.
—The Editorial Board, Chicago Tribune, 7 May 2025
At the plot-heavy episode’s center is the knotty friendship between June and Janine, who haven’t seen each other since their separation in season four.
—Amanda Whiting, Vulture, 22 Apr. 2025
That voice sits atop dreamy keys and knotty electric guitar.
—Jed Gottlieb, Boston Herald, 3 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for knotty
Recent Examples of Synonyms for knotty
Adjective
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Anne Hathaway wears an intricate scarf and shades on the set of The Devil Wears Prada 2 in New York City on July 25.—
Alexandra Schonfeld,
People.com,
25 July 2025
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Nearby, Peacock Alley Lounge—the beating heart of the hotel–now feels more like a salon, with musicians playing nightly and guests craning for a closer look at the intricate ceiling.—
Jacqui Gifford,
Travel + Leisure,
25 July 2025
Adjective
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They are often considered the most beautiful irises but can be difficult to grow.—
Andy Wilcox,
Better Homes & Gardens,
15 July 2025
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Ullmann is the daughter of the late Swedish director Ingmar Bergman and the Norwegian actor Liv Ullmann, and specifics of her childhood are not difficult to locate.—
Rachel Vorona Cote,
The Atlantic,
15 July 2025
Adjective
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Experts say this order – and others like it – ignores existing science that shows the issue is much more complicated.—
Jen Christensen,
CNN Money,
21 July 2025
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The distinction between a studio apartment and a one-bedroom apartment is quite simple, but understanding why the former can be a better option than the latter is slightly more complicated.—
Rachel Davies,
Architectural Digest,
21 July 2025
Adjective
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The tougher policy changes are adding to the minors’ trauma, advocates say.—
Nicol León,
AZCentral.com,
22 July 2025
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Stellantis' loss, versus a 5.6 billion euro net profit a year earlier, underscores the tough challenges for new CEO Antonio Filosa, who was appointed in May after a disastrous performance in the company's crucial U.S. market in 2024 forced the ouster of former boss Carlos Tavares.—
Giulio Piovaccari,
Freep.com,
21 July 2025
Adjective
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Tariffs, trade wars and economic uncertainty complicate operations and planning.—
Simon Dae Oong Kim,
Forbes.com,
6 June 2025
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Now, sometimes the people or circumstances around us complicate that endeavor.—
R. Eric Thomas,
Denver Post,
4 June 2025
Adjective
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In Cisco’s 2025 Data Privacy Benchmark, 64% of global respondents worry about inadvertently exposing sensitive information through AI tools, even as nearly half admit to feeding personal data into them.—
Boris Dzhingarov,
Forbes.com,
15 July 2025
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And new privacy legislation in Senate Bill 1295 requires collectors of sensitive data to notify consumers if their personal data is being used to train large language models.—
Angela Eichhorst,
Hartford Courant,
15 July 2025
Adjective
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Advocates argue that these policies are traumatizing for the children and that legal representation is crucial for navigating the complex immigration system.—
Nicol León,
AZCentral.com,
22 July 2025
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The humor in Mafalda toggles from complex wordplay to visual humor to political allegory.—
Alex Dueben
July 21,
Literary Hub,
21 July 2025
Adjective
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Since 2019, OpenAI has methodically shifted power away from its nonprofit parent organization into a tangled web of business deals and investor relationships.—
Orson Aguilar,
Mercury News,
10 July 2025
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Ecosystems persist below the concrete and above it, creating a tangled, messy, vibrant example of cohabitation.—
Krista Langlois,
Smithsonian Magazine,
7 July 2025
Cite this Entry
“Knotty.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/knotty. Accessed 29 Jul. 2025.
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