THORN: Synonyms and Related Words. What is Another Word for THORN?

Need another word that means the same as “thorn”? Find 9 synonyms and 30 related words for “thorn” in this overview.

The synonyms of “Thorn” are: pricker, prickle, spikelet, spine, sticker, irritant, spike, barb, bristle

Thorn as a Noun

Definitions of "Thorn" as a noun

According to the Oxford Dictionary of English, “thorn” as a noun can have the following definitions:

• A yellowish-brown woodland moth that rests with the wings raised over the back, with caterpillars that mimic twigs in appearance.
• A thorny bush, shrub, or tree, especially a hawthorn.
• A source of discomfort, annoyance, or difficulty; an irritation or obstacle.
• A stiff, sharp-pointed woody projection on the stem or other part of a plant.
• A small sharp-pointed tip resembling a spike on a stem or leaf.
• Something that causes irritation and annoyance.
• A Germanic character of runic origin.
• An Old English and Icelandic runic letter, þ or Þ, representing the dental fricatives ð and θ. In English it was eventually superseded by the digraph th.

Synonyms of "Thorn" as a noun (9 Words)

barb	The pointed part of barbed wire. His barb hurt more than she cared to admit.
bristle	A stiff animal hair, or a man-made substitute, used to make a brush. The heads are made with natural bristle.
irritant	A substance that causes slight inflammation or other discomfort to the body. In 1966 Vietnam was becoming an irritant to the government.
pricker	An awl for making small holes for brads or small screws.
prickle	A small sharp-pointed tip resembling a spike on a stem or leaf. The prickles of the gorse bushes.
spike	Fruiting spike of a cereal plant especially corn. The spike pierced the receipts and held them in order.
spikelet	The basic unit of a grass flower, consisting of two glumes or outer bracts at the base and one or more florets above.
spine	Any sharply pointed projection. Puerto Rico s mountainous spine.
sticker	An adhesive label. She s a sticker.

Usage Examples of "Thorn" as a noun

• He's a thorn in my flesh.
• The issue has become a thorn in renewing the peace talks.

Associations of "Thorn" (30 Words)

barb	A freshwater fish with barbels around the mouth popular in aquaria. His barb hurt more than she cared to admit.
bush	Provide with a bushing. A rose bush.
cactus	Any succulent plant of the family Cactaceae native chiefly to arid regions of the New World and usually having spines.
fragment	Break or cause to break into fragments. Lough Erne fragmented into a series of lakes.
harpoon	Spear with a harpoon. Gilbert s father harpooned a five metre basking shark.
hawthorn	A spring-flowering shrub or small tree of the genus Crataegus.
impale	Transfix or pierce with a sharp instrument. The enemies were impaled and left to die.
javelin	An athletic competition in which a javelin is thrown as far as possible. His nearest rival in the javelin.
mesquite	Any of several small spiny trees or shrubs of the genus Prosopis having small flowers in axillary cylindrical spikes followed by large pods rich in sugar.
orchid	Any of numerous plants of the orchid family usually having flowers of unusual shapes and beautiful colors.
outback	The remote and usually uninhabited inland districts of Australia. The outback of Ontario.
petiole	The slender stem that supports the blade of a leaf.
pointed	Direct and obvious in meaning or reference; often unpleasant. His face tapers to a pointed chin.
prickle	Cause a stinging or tingling sensation. I hate the way the fibres prickle your skin.
prickly	Covered in prickles. He became prickly and spiteful.
rose	Any of many shrubs of the genus Rosa that bear roses. She s a rose between two thorns.
secede	Withdraw from an organization or communion. The kingdom of Belgium seceded from the Netherlands in 1830.
shrub	A low woody perennial plant usually having several major stems.
sliver	Form into slivers. It broke into slivers.
spear	Pierce with a spear. Smoked salmon wrapped around asparagus spears.
spike	Injure a player with the spikes on one s shoes. He doubted they would spike the entire effort over this one negotiation.
spinous	Shaped like a spine or thorn. The dorsal fin is spinous.
spiny	Having spines. A spiny problem.
splinter	Divide into slivers or splinters. He crashed into a fence splintering the wooden barricade.
stake	Mark with a stake. A stake in the company s future.
sterling	British money especially the pound sterling as the basic monetary unit of the UK. This organization does sterling work for youngsters.
sticker	A short knife with a pointed blade used for piercing or stabbing. She s a sticker.
thorny	Causing distress, difficulty, or trouble. The thorny question of states rights.
transfix	Pierce with a sharp stake or point. She stared at him transfixed.
wire	Provide fasten or reinforce with wires. He was expecting a friend in Australia to wire him 1 500.