1. bristling with perplexities;

   "the thorny question of states' rights"
   

2. having or covered with protective barbs or quills or spines or thorns or setae etc.;

   "a horse with a short bristly mane"
   "bristly shrubs"
   "burred fruits"
   "setaceous whiskers"
   

1.(植物、树木)带刺的，多刺的
Athorny plant or tree is covered with thorns.

e.g. ...thorny hawthorn trees.
长满刺的山楂树

2.(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.

e.g. ...thethorny issue of immigration policy...
移民政策这个棘手问题
e.g. It is essential that we tackle thisthorny problem.
我们很有必要处理这个棘手问题。

1. 多刺的：thornlike 象刺一样的 |thorny 多刺的 | thoro 完全的

2. 具剌的：thorn forest 多刺丛林 |thorny 具剌的 | thousand seed weight 千粒重

3. 棘手的：take it or leave it不容讨价还价的 |thorny棘手的 | to be crowned with success成功地完成了任务

4. 多刺的、痛苦的：89、authorization 授权、认可 | 91、thorny 多刺的、痛苦的 | 93、forfeiture 丧失、没收物、罚款

• I have a sharp tongue and a thorny exterior.

  出自：fig.