thorny
adjective
1. bristling with perplexities
- the thorny question of states' rights
Similar word(s): difficult, hard
2. having or covered with protective barbs or quills or spines or thorns or setae etc.
Similar word(s): armed, barbed, barbellate, briary, briery, bristled, bristly, burred, burry, prickly, setaceous, setose, spiny