knotty

[ not-ee ]

adjective

, knot·ti·er, knot·ti·est.

1. having knots; knot; full of knots: knot:

   a knotty piece of wood.

2. involved, intricate, or difficult:

   a knotty problem.

   Synonyms: complicated, complex

knotty

/ ˈnɒtɪ /

adjective

1. (of wood, rope, etc) full of or characterized by knots
2. extremely difficult or intricate

Derived Forms

• ˈknottily, adverb
• ˈknottiness, noun

Other Words From

• knotti·ly adverb
• knotti·ness noun
• un·knotty adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of knotty¹

First recorded in 1200–50, knotty is from the Middle English word cnotti. See knot ¹, -y ¹

Example Sentences

Ultimately the vibe of “The Outrun” is closer to meandering travelogue than the knottier healing drama we were hoping for.

From Los Angeles Times

And the cast of characters, each with a knotty backstory, creates a tapestry of narratives that can only be glimpsed in passing.

From Los Angeles Times

Perhaps the starkest, knottiest contemporary depiction of nuns is the playwright John Patrick Shanley’s “Doubt: A Parable.”

From New York Times

IN THE NEWS: President Joe Biden faces a knotty task in trying to reach a cease-fire agreement between Hamas and Israel – two antagonists who each would like to obliterate the other.

From Seattle Times

“Some parts of the tree appear to be knotty places, which may never be resolved,” Baker says.

From Science Magazine

Related Words

• complicated
• mystifying
• perplexing
• puzzling
• sticky
• thorny
• tricky