1. A difficult, problematic, or delicate task or duty that is hard to manage or resolve
Dealing with the company's financial crisis proved to be a thorny responsibility.
Lidar com a crise financeira da empresa mostrou ser uma incumbência espinhosa.
2. An obligation or assignment that involves complications, controversy, or risk
The manager faced a thorny responsibility in choosing which employees to lay off.
O gerente enfrentou uma incumbência espinhosa ao escolher quais funcionários demitir.