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Meaning & use

crown of thorns

noun·Advanced

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UK/ˌkraʊn əv ˈθɔːnz/
US/ˌkraʊn əv ˈθɔːrnz/

Meanings

  1. nounsingularreligion

    A circle of woven thorny stems, especially the one that Christian tradition says soldiers pressed onto Jesus's head before he was crucified.

    Grammar: Takes an or the: a crown of thorns, never crowns of thorn.

    Patterns

    • wear a crown of thorns
    • a crown of thorns on something

    The painting shows Christ with a crown of thorns and blood running down his forehead.

    Pilgrims in the procession carried a wooden cross and a replica crown of thorns.

    A carved crown of thorns hung above the altar.

  2. nounsingularfigurative

    A painful burden or suffering that comes with a position, role or achievement that other people admire.

    Grammar: Used figuratively, usually with a possessive: her crown of thorns.

    Patterns

    • wear a crown of thorns
    • a crown of thorns for someone

    Fame turned out to be a crown of thorns for the young singer, who could no longer walk down a street.

    For the new coach, the job was a crown of thorns: every defeat was blamed on him.

    He saw his promotion as a crown of thorns because it brought long hours and constant criticism.

  3. nouncountablebiology

    A spiny, brightly flowered succulent plant, native to Madagascar, that is often grown indoors.

    Grammar: Often a plant name: a crown of thorns on the windowsill.

    Patterns

    • grow a crown of thorns

    The crown of thorns on our windowsill blooms red almost all year.

    Be careful when you repot a crown of thorns, because its stems are covered in sharp spines.

    She bought a crown of thorns because it survives even when she forgets to water it.

Word forms

pluralcrowns of thorns

Common combinations

wear a crown of thorns
In the play, the actor wears a crown of thorns for the final scene.
place a crown of thorns on someone's head
The soldiers in the story place a crown of thorns on his head and mock him.
a painful crown of thorns
Leadership was a painful crown of thorns for the exhausted mayor.
a bloodied crown of thorns
The sculpture shows a bloodied crown of thorns resting on a bowed head.
a crown of thorns for someone
Success proved a crown of thorns for the author, who dreaded every interview.

Synonyms and how they differ

burden
Burden is a general word for anything heavy to bear, while crown of thorns adds the idea that the suffering comes with an honored position.
cross to bear
Cross to bear also comes from Christian imagery but stresses a long-lasting personal hardship, not one that comes with status.
poisoned chalice
A poisoned chalice is an honor that will probably cause the person harm later, whereas a crown of thorns hurts from the start.

Opposites

blessing

Word family

crown noun
A circular headdress worn by a ruler, or a symbol of royal power.
crown verb
To place a crown on someone's head, or to give someone a title.
thorny adjective
Covered in thorns, or full of difficulties.
thorn noun
A sharp point growing on the stem of a plant.

Commonly confused: crown of thorns or thorn in the side?

crown of thorns vs thorn in the side

A thorn in the side is a person or thing that keeps annoying you, whereas a crown of thorns is a painful burden that comes with an honor.

Practice

The new principal found that her promotion was a ______: she gained a title, but also endless complaints and sleepless nights.

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