thorny

adj 1: bristling with perplexities; "the thorny question of states'

rights"

2: having or covered with protective barbs or quills or spines

or thorns etc.; "a horse with a short bristly mane";

"bristly shrubs"; "burred fruits" [syn: {barbed}, {barbellate},

{briary}, {briery}, {bristled}, {bristly}, {burred}, {burry},

{prickly}, {spiny}]