convoluted
adjective
con·vo·lut·ed ˈkän-və-ˌlü-təd 
1
: having convolutions
a ram with convoluted horns
2
: involved, intricate
a convoluted argument
Did you know?
The Origin of Convoluted Isn't
Convoluted comes from Latin convolvere, meaning "to roll up, coil, or twist." It is related to the verb convolute, meaning "to twist or coil." Once something is twisted it can be literally and figuratively difficult to unravel, and can be convoluated.
Synonyms
- baroque
- byzantine
- complex
- complicate
- complicated
- daedal
- elaborate
- intricate
- involute
- involved
- knotty
- labyrinthian
- labyrinthine
- sophisticated
- tangled
See all Synonyms & Antonyms 
Example Sentences
At base stands a profound respect for the integrity of history and the complex and convoluted relationship between present and the past. 
Ira Berlin, New York Times Book Review, 9 Sept. 2001 They are pictures of convoluted tree trunks on an island of pink wave-smoothed stone … Margaret Atwood, Harper's, August 1990 … she has been fashioning sequences of plans too convoluted to materialize … Joseph Heller, God Knows, 1984 To therapists, stepfamilies may present convoluted psychological dilemmas … Letty Cottin Pogrebin, Family Politics, 1983 a convoluted explanation that left the listeners even more confused than they were before
Ira Berlin, New York Times Book Review, 9 Sept. 2001 They are pictures of convoluted tree trunks on an island of pink wave-smoothed stone … Margaret Atwood, Harper's, August 1990 … she has been fashioning sequences of plans too convoluted to materialize … Joseph Heller, God Knows, 1984 To therapists, stepfamilies may present convoluted psychological dilemmas … Letty Cottin Pogrebin, Family Politics, 1983 a convoluted explanation that left the listeners even more confused than they were before Recent Examples on the Web But the mystery loses its way as suspects pile up and the plot grows more convoluted, though the film does add in an intriguing real-life Agatha Christie angle. Brian Truitt, USA TODAY, 16 Sep. 2022 If any of these explanations sound convoluted to you as a reader, it’s all by design. Gene Park, Washington Post, 14 June 2022 Sailing is the act of going nowhere fast in the most convoluted fashion imaginable. Luther Ray Abel, National Review, 28 Aug. 2022 Public perception has turned sharply against him in recent weeks after a convoluted and unsuccessful approach to the trade deadline. Peter Abraham, BostonGlobe.com, 27 Aug. 2022 This will probably be less annoying, though much more convoluted in the way that it's applied. Wired Staff, WIRED, 25 Aug. 2022 The union argues that the payment system is convoluted and arbitrary. Danielle Douglas-gabriel, Washington Post, 22 Aug. 2022 Nathan repeatedly combats convoluted, seemingly minor problems with inconvenient and absurd solutions for the sake of comedy. Ethan Shanfeld, Variety, 19 Aug. 2022 The youngish leading man was needed to play a handsome, heartbroken insurance agent who gets dragged into a convoluted policy investigation when the Garveys’ loathsome brother-in-law turns up dead. New York Times, 18 Aug. 2022 See More
Brian Truitt, USA TODAY, 16 Sep. 2022 If any of these explanations sound convoluted to you as a reader, it’s all by design. Gene Park, Washington Post, 14 June 2022 Sailing is the act of going nowhere fast in the most convoluted fashion imaginable. Luther Ray Abel, National Review, 28 Aug. 2022 Public perception has turned sharply against him in recent weeks after a convoluted and unsuccessful approach to the trade deadline. Peter Abraham, BostonGlobe.com, 27 Aug. 2022 This will probably be less annoying, though much more convoluted in the way that it's applied. Wired Staff, WIRED, 25 Aug. 2022 The union argues that the payment system is convoluted and arbitrary. Danielle Douglas-gabriel, Washington Post, 22 Aug. 2022 Nathan repeatedly combats convoluted, seemingly minor problems with inconvenient and absurd solutions for the sake of comedy. Ethan Shanfeld, Variety, 19 Aug. 2022 The youngish leading man was needed to play a handsome, heartbroken insurance agent who gets dragged into a convoluted policy investigation when the Garveys’ loathsome brother-in-law turns up dead. New York Times, 18 Aug. 2022 See More Word History
Etymology
from past participle of convolute
First Known Use
1766, in the meaning defined at sense 1
Phrases Containing convoluted
Medical Definition
convoluted
adjective
con·vo·lut·ed -ˌlü-təd
: folded in curved or tortuous windings
specifically : having convolutions
the highly convoluted human cerebral cortex
convoluted
adjective
as in complicated
having many parts or aspects that are usually interrelated a convoluted explanation that left the listeners even more confused than they were before Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
- complicated
- intricate
- complicate
- complex
- byzantine
- sophisticated
- tangled
- labyrinthine
- labyrinthian
- elaborate
- involved
- baroque
- knotty
- difficult
- varied
- involute
- overcomplicated
- daedal
- multifaceted
- heterogeneous
- multifarious
- mixed
- incomprehensible
- challenging
- overcomplex
- unintelligible
- inexplicable
- compound
- composite
- multipart
- unfathomable
- tough
- multibranched
- impenetrable
- Kafkaesque
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- simple
- plain
- uncomplicated
- simplistic
- simplified
- noncomplex
- oversimplified
- homogeneous
- noncomplicated
- uniform
- unvaried