33 entries under problematic topic. ×

38
difficult(adjective, hard, rough, difficult, delicate)
34
knotty(adjective, hard, difficulty, difficult, delicate)
31
tough(adjective, hard, difficult, complex)
30
hard(adjective, rough, difficult, delicate, complex)
28
complex(adjective, hard, difficult, delicate, awkward)
28
tricky(adjective, hard, difficult, complex, complicated)
26
sticky(adjective, hard, difficult, complex)
26
severe(adjective, hard, difficult, complex)
25
trying(adjective, hard, difficulty, difficult, complex)
20
prickly(adjective, easy, sharp, difficult, pain)
15
ticklish(adjective, difficult, delicate, complex, tricky)
10
troublesome(adjective, hard, rough, difficult, delicate)
8
awkward(adjective, tough, difficulty, difficult, delicate)
8
bothersome(adjective, tough, difficult, tricky)
8
perplexing(adjective, hard, difficult, delicate, complex)
7
formidable(adjective, bad, difficult, delicate, complex)
7
nettlesome(adjective, tough, easy, difficult, pain)
5
baffling(adjective, difficult, delicate, complex, tricky)
5
vexatious(adjective, difficult)
3
intractable
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APASmart Define. (2015). thorny thesaurus. Retrieved September 23, 2026, from https://smartdefine.org/thorny/thesaurus/synonyms
ChicagoSmart Define. 2015. "thorny thesaurus" https://smartdefine.org/thorny/thesaurus/synonyms (accessed September 23, 2026).
HarvardSmart Define 2015, thorny thesaurus, Smart Define, viewed 23 September, 2026, <https://smartdefine.org/thorny/thesaurus/synonyms>.
MLASmart Define. "thorny thesaurus" 13 April 2015. Web. 23 September 2026. <https://smartdefine.org/thorny/thesaurus/synonyms>