convoluted

USAGE SUMMARY

'convoluted' is a correct and usable word in written English.
You can use it to describe something that is complicated, or to describe something with a complex and indirect structure. For example: "The legal document was so convoluted that it took the lawyers two hours to decipher it."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Instead, convoluted codes of practice will be published instead.

The Guardian

Marina Diamandis's second album Electra Heart, released in 2012, got muddled slightly by arch personas, convoluted concepts and way too much hair dye.

The Guardian - Music

Richard Hankin, the director of 16 Acres, a documentary that charts the deeply convoluted progress at the site, says this confusion over who's in charge of signing off is typical.

The Guardian

Some are circuitous, others take bafflingly convoluted detours.

The Guardian

In an era of increasingly complex and convoluted mass surveillance systems, some argue that "privacy is dead", impossible to protect in the face of rapid technological advancements.

The Guardian

Some lobby journalists claimed the leaks were coming from the police, others suggested they may have come via a convoluted route from Downing Street.

The Guardian

Any of these combustible subjects can spark a week-long orgy of backlash and counter-backlash, with arguments so convoluted they would leave medieval theologians reeling.

The Guardian - Opinion

The DUP wants to see immediate elections, believing that David Trimble's election as first minister on Tuesday - after convoluted horse-trading within Stormont - came after an earlier six-week deadline for the post to be filled.

The Guardian

And Mark Walhberg is a cop too, in a needlessly convoluted plot twist whereby two agents from different bureaus were set up to go undercover and rob a bank and then kill each other but, now that the plot has backfired, the two agents will be forced to work alongside one another to figure out who masterminded the set up despite their mutual violent mistrust of each other.

The Guardian - Film

The consequence of this bid for impartiality, which began with the drawing of lots to decide the podium order, is a convoluted looking question-and-answer grid.

The Guardian

It's convoluted.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "convoluted", ensure the context clearly indicates what is complex or difficult to understand. Avoid overuse, as it can make your writing seem unnecessarily complex.

Common error

While "convoluted" and "complex" are similar, "convoluted" implies not just complexity but also a confusing or unnecessarily intricate nature. Use "complex" if you simply mean something has many parts or is not simple.

Linguistic Context

The adjective "convoluted" primarily functions to describe nouns, indicating that they possess a complex, intricate, and often confusing structure or nature. Ludwig AI confirms its proper usage.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

59%

Formal & Business

21%

Science

20%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "convoluted" is a frequently used adjective to describe something intricate, complex, and often unnecessarily confusing. As Ludwig AI confirms, its grammatical usage is correct. Its register leans towards neutral and formal, appearing most often in news and media, formal business settings, and scientific writing. While synonyms like "complex" or "intricate" exist, "convoluted" specifically implies a difficult-to-follow structure. When employing this word, ensure that the context warrants its implications of confusion and needless complication to avoid miscommunication.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

complicated

Focuses on the complexity, often implying difficulty in understanding.

intricate

Emphasizes the detailed and complex nature of something.

complex

A general term for something with many parts or aspects.

tangled

Suggests a confused and disordered state.

involved

Highlights the complexity arising from numerous elements or factors.

Byzantine

Implies excessive complexity and secretiveness.

tortuous

Emphasizes a winding and indirect path or process.

circuitous

Focuses on indirectness and a roundabout way of proceeding.

knotty

Highlights a problem or situation that is difficult to resolve.

muddled

Suggests a state of confusion and lack of clarity.

FAQs

How can I use "convoluted" in a sentence?

You can use "convoluted" to describe something that is complex and difficult to follow. For example, "The plot of the movie was so "convoluted" that I couldn't understand it".

What's the difference between "convoluted" and "complex"?

"Convoluted" implies a confusing or unnecessarily intricate nature, while "complex" simply means something has many parts or aspects. Thus, something can be complex without being convoluted.

What are some synonyms for "convoluted"?

Some synonyms for "convoluted" include "intricate", "tangled", "involved", and "Byzantine". Choose the synonym that best fits the specific context.

Is it always negative to describe something as "convoluted"?

While "convoluted" often carries a negative connotation because it implies confusion, it's not always negative. Sometimes, it simply describes something that is technically complex, even if that complexity serves a purpose. However, be aware of the potential for a negative interpretation.