1. having sharp pointed parts; covered with spines or thorns
2. difficult to handle or deal with; causing problems
Usage: figurative

Examples

• The spiny cactus made it difficult to walk through the desert.
• Sea urchins are spiny creatures that live on the ocean floor.
• Rose bushes have spiny stems that can scratch your hands.
• The porcupine’s spiny quills protect it from predators.
• They faced a spiny legal issue that took months to resolve.
• The spiny lobster has a hard, thorny shell.
• Negotiating the contract proved to be a spiny problem.