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

The stems are as thick as a man's finger and very thorny.
“玫瑰巨人”的枝干多刺，粗细和男人的手指差不多。
Thorny issues such as women's role in agriculture and land tenure rights must also be tackled.
还必须解决女性在农业中的作用以及土地权等棘手的问题。
Unquestionably, a variety of thorny statistical issues are involved in the analysis of data obtained by the authors.
无可非议，对作者获得的数据进行分析涉及各种棘手的统计问题。
It is essential that we tackle this thorny problem.
我们很有必要处理这个棘手问题。
The roses are thorny. Take care not to prick your hands.
玫瑰有刺，小心扎手。
Its relations with international rulemakers can be thorny: think of the World Trade Organisation.
美国与国际规则制定者之间的关系常常很棘手：例如和世界贸易组织。
For a start, there are thorny issues arising from the Smith recommendations.
首先，史密斯的建议将引发一些棘手的问题。
Tax arbitrage has always been a thorny issue.
税收套利一直是个棘手的问题。
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。
Race relations in the US continue to be a thorny problem. Racism remains a touchy issue.
美国的种族关系一直是棘手的问题。种族主义可是个要小心处理的问题。