WordValelabyrinthine
like a maze; intricate and confusing
In more detail
1. (adjective) complicated and difficult to navigate or understand, like a maze
2. (adjective) relating to or resembling a labyrinth (maze)
Examples
- 1. The labyrinthine rules of the tax system confuse most people.
- 2. The labyrinthine passages of the ancient palace made it easy to get lost.
How to use labyrinthine
Labyrinthine describes something that is extremely complex and difficult to navigate or understand, often with many twists and turns—either literally (like a building's layout) or figuratively (like a legal process). It carries a tone of frustration or bewilderment and is more dramatic and literary than neutral synonyms like 'complicated.' The term is commonly applied to abstract systems, narratives, and institutional processes.
Common phrases
- labyrinthine structure
- labyrinthine process
- labyrinthine path
- labyrinthine bureaucracy
- labyrinthine plot
Synonyms
convoluted · intricate · maze-like · bewildering · tortuous
Opposites
straightforward · simple · clear
Word family
labyrinth (noun) · labyrinthine (adjective)
A common mistake
Learners sometimes overuse labyrinthine in casual contexts where simpler words like 'complicated' would be more appropriate; it is a literary and formal word best reserved for genuinely intricate situations.
Save this word in WordVale and it comes back for review right before you'd forget it — with pronunciation, real examples, and optional translations. One purchase, no subscription.
Get WordValeFREE 7-DAY TRIAL · iPHONE & iPAD