often attributive
1
2
:a woody plant bearing sharp impeding processes (such as prickles or spines)
especially:hawthorn
3
:something that causes distress or irritation—often used in the phrasethorn in one's side
4
:the runic letter þ used in Old English and Middle English to represent either of the fricatives \th\ or \t͟h\ and in Icelandic to represent \th\
Synonyms ofthorn
Examples ofthorn in a Sentence
your constant questions are athorn in my side
Recent Examples on the WebAccording to fashion reporter Jarrod Jenkins, who shared a video of the event on his Instagram, Taylor said the theme of her previous Air Jordan 1 Zoom Cmft collaboration was centered around the rose, while the new Air Jordan 3 project hones in on thethorns.—
Riley Jones,Footwear News, 1 Feb. 2026Makeup removal can sometimes feel like athorn in your side, especially when heavy, waterproof formulas are standing in the way.—Tatayana Yomary,Essence, 28 Jan. 2026In the seventeenth century, the Dutch East India’s colony at Cape Town subjected indigenous people who hoped to trade with their soldiers, sailors, and farmers to different rules and plantedthorn bushes to keep them out of the European settlement.—Eve Fairbanks,The Dial, 27 Jan. 2026These territorialthorns aside, Zelensky has said a proposed three-way split of the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant between the US, Russia and Ukraine remains a big stumbling block.—Nick Paton Walsh,CNN Money, 21 Jan. 2026See All Example Sentences forthorn
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage.Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.Send us feedback.
Riley Jones,Footwear News, 1 Feb. 2026Makeup removal can sometimes feel like athorn in your side, especially when heavy, waterproof formulas are standing in the way.—Tatayana Yomary,Essence, 28 Jan. 2026In the seventeenth century, the Dutch East India’s colony at Cape Town subjected indigenous people who hoped to trade with their soldiers, sailors, and farmers to different rules and plantedthorn bushes to keep them out of the European settlement.—Eve Fairbanks,The Dial, 27 Jan. 2026These territorialthorns aside, Zelensky has said a proposed three-way split of the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant between the US, Russia and Ukraine remains a big stumbling block.—Nick Paton Walsh,CNN Money, 21 Jan. 2026See All Example Sentences forthornWord History
Etymology
Middle English, from Old English; akin to Old High Germandorn thorn, Sanskrittṛṇa grass, blade of grass
First Known Use
before the 12th century, in the meaning defined atsense 2
Time Traveler
The first known use ofthorn was before the 12th centuryPhrases Containingthorn
Browse Nearby Words
Cite this Entry
“Thorn.”Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/thorn. Accessed 16 Feb. 2026.
Copy CitationKids Definition
thorn
noun1
:a woody plant bearing sharp processes (as prickles or spines)
especially:hawthorn
2
:a sharp stiff process on a plant
especially:a stem modified into a short, stiff, and leafless sharp point
3
:something or someone that causes distress or irritation—often used in the phrasethorn in one's side
More from Merriam-Webster onthorn
Nglish:Translation ofthorn for Spanish Speakers
Britannica.com:Encyclopedia article aboutthorn
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