thorny

英 [ˈθɔːni]

美 [ˈθɔːrni]

adj. 棘手的; 麻烦的; 引起争议的; 有刺的; 多刺的

最高级：thorniest　比较级：thornier　

Collins.1 / BNC.18411 / COCA.13200

牛津词典

adj.

棘手的；麻烦的；引起争议的
causing difficulty or disagreement
1. a thorny question/issue/problem
  棘手的问题
有刺的；多刺的
having thorns
1. a thorny bush
  有刺的灌木

ADJ (植物、树木)带刺的，多刺的
Athornyplant or tree is covered with thorns.
1. ...thorny hawthorn trees.
  长满刺的山楂树
ADJ-GRADED (问题)棘手的，复杂难解的，令人头疼的
If you describe a problem asthorny, you mean that it is very complicated and difficult to solve, and that people are often unwilling to discuss it.
1. ...the thorny issue of immigration policy...
  移民政策这个棘手问题
2. It is essential that we tackle this thorny problem.
  我们很有必要处理这个棘手问题。

adj

China's cityscape of the problem is that we have to face one of the thorny problems.
当前我国城市风采的题目就是我们不得不面对的棘手困难之一。
The roses are thorny. Take care not to prick your hands.
玫瑰有刺，小心扎手。
The so-called puppy love problem is a thorny issue for all teachers.
老师们大都把早恋看作一个棘手的问题。
How exactly these private dancers know which hotel rooms to visit, though, has become a thorny question.
可是，这些私人舞女究竟是怎样知道该去哪个旅馆房间的现在却成了一个棘手的问题。
China and neighboring countries promoted the integration process and worked together to solve many thorny issues.
促进了互利合作，推进了地区一体化建设，共同努力妥善处理和解决地区的热点问题。
Recruiting from outside the family, however, remain a thorny issue.
然而，在家族之外进行招聘仍然是个棘手的问题。
In a specification of hundreds of pages, consistency is a thorny problem.
在一部有着数百页的规格说明里，一致性是一个棘手的问题。
In Japan, though, this is proving a particularly thorny problem.
然而在日本，事实证明这是一个尤其棘手的问题。
Now we come to the thorny question of cost.
现在我们来讨论成本这个棘手的问题。
The thorny problem of what happens when the boss is absent.
老板不在时情况会怎样这一棘手问题。