38
difficult(adjective, hard, rough, difficult, delicate)
34
knotty(adjective, hard, difficulty, difficult, delicate)
31
tough(adjective, hard, difficult, complex, problematic)
30
hard(adjective, rough, difficult, delicate, complex)
29
complicated(adjective, hard, difficulty, difficult, delicate)
28
complex(adjective, hard, difficult, delicate, awkward)
28
tricky(adjective, hard, difficult, complex, complicated)
27
intricate(adjective, hard, difficulty, difficult, delicate)
27
rugged(adjective, hard, difficulty, difficult, complex)
26
sticky(adjective, hard, difficult, complex, problematic)
26
severe(adjective, hard, difficult, complex, problematic)
25
problematic(adjective, hard, difficult, delicate, complex)
25
rough(adjective, hard, difficult, complex, sharpness)
25
trying(adjective, hard, difficulty, difficult, complex)
23
arduous(adjective, hard, difficult, complex, demanding)
23
involved(adjective, hard, difficult, delicate, complex)
23
laborious(adjective, hard, difficult, complex)
23
nasty(adjective, hard, difficult, complex)
23
painful(adjective, hard, difficult, complex)
22
sensitive(adjective, hard, difficult, complex)
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APASmart Define. (2015). thorny thesaurus. Retrieved September 21, 2026, from https://smartdefine.org/thorny/thesaurus/synonyms
ChicagoSmart Define. 2015. "thorny thesaurus" https://smartdefine.org/thorny/thesaurus/synonyms (accessed September 21, 2026).
HarvardSmart Define 2015, thorny thesaurus, Smart Define, viewed 21 September, 2026, <https://smartdefine.org/thorny/thesaurus/synonyms>.
MLASmart Define. "thorny thesaurus" 13 April 2015. Web. 21 September 2026. <https://smartdefine.org/thorny/thesaurus/synonyms>