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

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。
There are still a few thorny questions, many of which will not be answerable for some time.
现在还有一些问题没有得到解答。一个最重要的就是一个游戏在不同手机的表现差距多少？
The concept has fascinated security experts, but there are thorny technical problems.
这个理念令安全专家深深着迷，但其中也存在棘手的技术难题。
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。
It is essential that we tackle this thorny problem.
我们很有必要处理这个棘手问题。
A broad question& but also a thorny one in this circumstance.
这是一个很宽泛的问题，但考虑到提问背景，这也是一个很尖锐的问题。
Moreover, Chinese firms must wrestle with thorny regulatory and political issues.
更为突出的是，中国人的公司必须与难搞的监管和政治事项相角力。
Another thorny issue involves controlling inflation in the face of emerging market forces.
另一棘手的问题涉及在市场力量形成的同时控制通货膨胀。
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。
Tax arbitrage has always been a thorny issue.
税收套利一直是个棘手的问题。