Synonyms for thorn

Grammar : Noun

Spell : thawrn

Phonetic Transcription : θɔrn

Définition of thorn

Origin : Old English þorn "sharp point on a stem or branch," earlier "thorny tree or plant," from Proto-Germanic *thurnuz (cf. Old Saxon thorn, Dutch doorn, Old High German dorn, German Dorn, Old Norse þorn, Gothic þaurnus), from PIE *trnus (cf. Old Church Slavonic trunu "thorn," Sanskrit trnam "blade of grass," Greek ternax "stalk of the cactus," Irish trainin "blade of grass"), from *(s)ter-n- "thorny plant," from root *ster- "stiff."
Figurative sense of "anything which causes pain" is recorded from early 13c. (thorn in the flesh is from II Cor. xii:7). Also an Anglo-Saxon and Icelandic runic letter (þ), named for the word of which it was the initial.

noun prickle
noun spike

Example sentences :

The thorn of Anna's inefficiency had always rankled in her flesh.
Extract from : « K » by Mary Roberts Rinehart

You, who have been hitherto the thorn in my path, the cloud in my fate!
Extract from : « Night and Morning, Complete » by Edward Bulwer-Lytton

There was something, too, about Paul's thorn in the flesh, but I forget that bit.
Extract from : « The Comrade In White » by W. H. Leathem

This unlucky newspaper was a thorn in the side of every patriot of Carlow County.
Extract from : « The Gentleman From Indiana » by Booth Tarkington

For their covering a mantle is what they all wear, fastened with a clasp or, for want of it, with a thorn.
Extract from : « Tacitus on Germany » by Tacitus

That friendship had in the past been a thorn in O'Moy's flesh.
Extract from : « The Snare » by Rafael Sabatini

A stone's throw away on his right the common was bordered by a thorn hedge.
Extract from : « Scaramouche » by Rafael Sabatini

Then Thorn faced the panel on which the induction-screen switch was placed.
Extract from : « Invasion » by William Fitzgerald Jenkins

Thorn looked up to see Sylva standing by the Watch-plane door.
Extract from : « Invasion » by William Fitzgerald Jenkins

"By his accent, he's a Baltic Russian," said Thorn very grimly in the darkness.
Extract from : « Invasion » by William Fitzgerald Jenkins

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Based on : Thesaurus.com - Gutenberg.org - Dictionary.com - Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019