1. the quality of having thorns or sharp spines
2. the quality of being difficult, complicated, or causing problems
Usage: figurative

Examples

• The thorniness of the rose bush made pruning difficult.
• Gardeners wear thick gloves to protect against the thorniness of blackberry canes.
• The thorniness of the legal issue required careful consideration.
• She was surprised by the thorniness of the seemingly simple problem.
• The thorniness of their relationship made family gatherings uncomfortable.
• Despite the thorniness of the negotiations, they reached an agreement.