convoluted

Intermediatezipf 3.05

Pronunciation

/ˈkɒnvəluːtɪd/(KON-vuh-loo-tid)

Part of speech

adjectiveneutral

Chinese

复杂难懂的；迂回曲折的

Definition

Extremely complex and difficult to follow; intricately twisted.

Word family

  • convolution/ˌkɒnvəˈluːʃən/(n)复杂/卷曲

Collocations

  • convoluted plot
  • convoluted explanation
  • convoluted logic
  • convoluted process

Examples

  1. 1.The tax code is so convoluted that even experts struggle with it. (overly complex)
  2. 2.The novel's convoluted plot confused many readers. (twisting, hard to follow)

Synonyms

  • complex/ˈkɒmplɛks/— having many parts, neutral
  • intricate/ˈɪntrɪkət/— detailed and complex, can be positive
  • tortuous/ˈtɔːtʃuəs/— winding, unnecessarily complex

Etymology

from Latin "convolutus" = rolled together — con- (together) + volvere (to roll) — tangled up like a rolled ball of yarn