Words in Context

SAT Reading and Writing· difficulty 4/5

The court declined to settle the constitutional question, leaving that thorny issue for another day. Its narrow holding addressed only the procedural lapse before it, and the larger principle remained, as it had been, unresolved.

As used in the text, what does the word "thorny" most nearly mean?

  • A

    difficult and contentious

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  • B

    delicate

  • C

    covered with sharp points

  • D

    rose-like

Explanation

The constitutional question is difficult enough that the court avoids it; "thorny" means difficult and contentious, not literal thorns, rose-like, or "delicate."

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