Intricate

USAGE SUMMARY

The part of the phrase "Intricate" is correct and usable in written English. You can use it to describe something that is very detailed, complex, or elaborate. An example is: "The intricate design of the jewelry captivated everyone." Alternative expressions with the same meaning include "complex" and "elaborate."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

"A body's function is far more intricate and important than looking 'beach ready', so in fact it is Protein World who have confused their priorities, if anyone".

The Guardian

Local artists use the city as their canvas and street artists from around the world come to create intricate works on the buildings of Cerro Alegre.

The Guardian - Travel

The intricate narrative manifests how the fates of the characters are bound together and how Havaa comes to symbolise all that is good in a chaotic world.

The Guardian - Books

They instead looked to use intricate build up play in and around the edge of the box to work room for a cut back from the by-line.

The Guardian - Sport

AM, with its mixture of thumping bass notes, intricate vocal layering and fabulously acute wordsmithery, has prompted a clamour of critical gushing.

The Guardian - Music

The casinos all belong to the ruthless, Trumpish Terry Benedict Andy Garciaa), who is also courting Ocean's ex-wife Tess Julia Robertss in an underwritten update of Angie Dickinson's role), which makes it hard to tell whether Ocean is planning this intricate stick-up to get rich or just to get his girl back.

The Guardian

Monroe describes in intricate detail how she had asset-stripped her life to pay the bills: sold her watch, iPhone and TV.

The Guardian

The wind-catchers – long, rectangular structures that cause airflow from the cooler undergrounds to the main rooms – in old homes are even more intricate than those found in Yazd, in the central desert.

The Guardian

Many of the paintings are intricate and complex works that require time to prepare and execute – walls need to sealed before painting if the piece is to last – so many artists ask for permission from the wall's owner before beginning.

The Guardian - Travel

At Hostal Acuarela – the name means watercolour – Ana from reception takes me outside and proudly displays a wall covered with an intricate, India-inspired pattern by a street artist called Mono Type.

The Guardian - Travel

The lung transplant physician who remembers the intricate, non-medical details of his patients' lives because, in his own words, he has "journeyed with them for years".

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "intricate" to describe systems, designs, or processes that have many complex parts and are difficult to understand or work with. This word conveys a sense of detailed complexity and careful construction.

Common error

Avoid using "intricate" when "detailed" or "complex" would suffice. "Intricate" is best reserved for situations where the complexity is a key feature, and the design or structure is notably elaborate.

Linguistic Context

The primary grammatical function of "intricate" is that of an adjective. It modifies nouns to describe their level of detail and complexity. As Ludwig AI confirms, "intricate" indicates that something possesses many complex parts or elements.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

43%

Formal & Business

30%

Science

27%

Less common in

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "intricate" functions as an adjective used to describe something with a high degree of detail and complexity. As Ludwig AI confirms, the phrase is grammatically correct and commonly used. It often appears in contexts such as News & Media, Formal & Business, and Science. When choosing related terms, consider options like ""complex"" or ""detailed"" for similar meanings. Remember to reserve "intricate" for situations where complexity is a key feature, avoiding its overuse in simpler contexts.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

Complex

Focuses on the multifaceted nature and interconnectedness of elements.

Detailed

Emphasizes the presence of many specific elements and particulars.

Elaborate

Suggests a high degree of embellishment and ornamentation.

Complicated

Highlights the difficulty in understanding or dealing with something.

Sophisticated

Implies a high level of refinement and advanced design.

Involved

Indicates a high degree of participation or interconnectedness.

Convoluted

Suggests a confusing and unnecessarily complex structure.

Minute

Emphasizes the smallness and precision of the details.

Fussy

Implies an excessive attention to detail, often in a negative way.

Articulate

Highlights the clarity and precision in expressing details.

FAQs

How to use "intricate" in a sentence?

You can use "intricate" to describe something that is very detailed, complex, or elaborate. For example: "The "intricate design" of the jewelry captivated everyone."

What can I say instead of "intricate"?

You can use alternatives like "complex", "detailed", or "elaborate", depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Which is correct, "intricate design" or "intricated design"?

"Intricate design" is the correct phrase. "Intricate" is an adjective that directly modifies the noun "design". "Intricated" is not a standard English word.

What's the difference between "intricate" and "complicated"?

"Intricate" implies complexity arising from detailed design and careful construction, while "complicated" suggests difficulty in understanding or dealing with something due to its complexity.