# spiny

> English word · Adjective · IPA /ˈspaɪni/ · frequency rank #45,095

## Definitions
1. Covered in spines or thorns.
2. Troublesome; difficult or vexing.
3. Like a spine in shape; slender.

## Etymology
From spine + -y.

## Easily confused with
- **spy** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/spiny-vs-spy)
- **spit** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/spiny-vs-spit)
- **spun** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/spiny-vs-spun)
- **SUNY** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/spiny-vs-suny)
- **swing** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/spiny-vs-swing)
- **spray** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/spiny-vs-spray)
- **sunny** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/spiny-vs-sunny)
- **spite** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/spiny-vs-spite)
- **sting** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/spiny-vs-sting)
- **stint** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/spiny-vs-stint)
- **suing** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/spiny-vs-suing)
- **stink** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/spiny-vs-stink)
- **swine** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/spiny-vs-swine)
- **stony** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/spiny-vs-stony)
- **spire** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/spiny-vs-spire)
- **spiro** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/spiny-vs-spiro)
- **spunk** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/spiny-vs-spunk)
- **spring** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/spiny-vs-spring)
- **sprint** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/spiny-vs-sprint)
- **spying** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/spiny-vs-spying)

## Common misspellings (8)
`psiny`, `sipny`, `spinny`, `spinyy`, `spiyn`, `spniy`, `sppiny`, `sspiny`

## Source
Compiled from Wiktionary via kaikki.org (CC BY-SA). Data vintage: 2026-05-06.
Canonical page: https://plainspell.com/en/word/spiny