intricacy

USAGE SUMMARY

The word 'intricacy' is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to describe something that is very complicated, detailed, or refined. Example sentence: "The intricacy of the building's architecture was breathtaking."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Encyclopedias

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

To accommodate them, the foundation is planning to move to a large campus near Seattle's famous Space Needle which some observers fear may reveal a bad case of the edifice complex that has prompted other well-funded foundations to build palatial headquarters.The intricacy of the problems it is trying to solve is another matter.

The Economist

Is American credit-worthiness strong, or are we going the way of Greece?Given the intricacy of the problem, it seems rather naive to suggest a little more comity would lead to compromise solutions that are obvious if only politicians took off their partisan blinders.

The Economist

That makes sense if, as seems plausible, a social animal needs to convey more complex and nuanced information than does a solitary one.Germ theoryThis chemical complexity was matched by the intricacy of the bacterial ecosystems believed to be generating it.

The Economist

Those said to have passed on tips about deals and upcoming earnings news at various public companies include a senior executive at IBM and employees from Moody's, a rating agency, McKinsey, a consultancy, and Intel, a chipmaker.The intricacy of this web highlights how many firms have access to privileged information from large companies.

The Economist

Nevertheless, it is in Europe's long-term interests to reduce the sheer intricacy of the current patchwork, especially because EU enlargement will inevitably add some vibrant new colours.Doing so will require determination and political co-operation.

The Economist

No writing can really capture such intricacy; it must be seen.

The Economist

Allowing anyone to conduct his own impromptu linguistic research, some linguists hope, will do more to popularise their notion of studying the intricacy and charm of language as it really exists, not as killjoy prescriptivists think it should be.

The Economist

He established himself as both tunesmith and technician balancing the intricacy of his songs' arrangements against simple choruses and clean production.Mr Lynne's love of arranging is something he attributes to his childhood memories of the standards, several of which he recorded at home for his recent solo album, "Long Wave".

The Economist

Mr O'Brien generally does so, matching clarity with intricacy.

The Economist

Reach refers to the size of your audience, richness to the intricacy and customisation of the services you can offer, and affiliation to the extent to which you are seen to respond to your customer's interests.In the physical world, these often have to be traded off against each other: go for a big audience and you lose familiarity with individual preferences, for example.

The Economist

The ancient Greek dramatists developed two distinct kinds of metres: "stichic" forms (i.e., consisting of "stichs," or lines, as metrical units) such as the iambic trimeter for the spoken dialogues; and lyric, or strophic, forms (i.e., consisting of stanzas), of great metrical intricacy, for the singing and chanting of choruses.

Encyclopedia Britannica

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "intricacy" to emphasize the detailed and elaborate nature of something, especially when highlighting the skill or artistry involved.

Common error

Avoid using "intricacy" when "complexity" or "detail" would suffice. Reserve "intricacy" for situations where the complexity is noteworthy and adds significant value or beauty.

Linguistic Context

The primary grammatical function of "intricacy" is as a noun. It typically refers to the quality of being intricate, complex, or detailed. According to Ludwig AI, it's usable in written English and describes something complicated or refined. Examples from Ludwig showcase its use in describing designs, problems, and musical arrangements.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

38%

Encyclopedias

30%

Science

10%

Less common in

Formal & Business

5%

Academia

5%

Wiki

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The word "intricacy" functions as a noun, denoting the quality of being intricate, complex, or detailed. Ludwig AI confirms its correct usage in written English, particularly to describe complicated or refined subjects. Its primary purpose is to highlight complexity and detail, often in a positive light emphasizing skill or artistry. While versatile, "intricacy" is best reserved for situations where the complexity is noteworthy, distinguishing it from simpler alternatives like "complexity" or "detail". As shown through examples found by Ludwig, this word appears most often in news media, encyclopedias, and scientific literature, maintaining a neutral to formal tone. To best use the word "intricacy", think of it not as just complicated, but elaborated with purpose.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

complexity

Focuses more on the complicated nature rather than the detailed artistry.

elaborateness

Highlights the extent of detail and care put into something.

complexity of design

Specifically emphasizes the complexity within a design context.

detailed nature

Emphasizes the presence of many details.

sophistication

Suggests a refined or advanced level of complexity.

subtlety

Implies delicate and nuanced complexity.

fineness

Focuses on the delicate and precise quality of details.

involvedness

Highlights the interconnected and complicated nature.

convolution

Emphasizes the winding and complex arrangement.

delicacy

Highlights the refined and fragile aspect of the complexity.

FAQs

How to use "intricacy" in a sentence?

You can use "intricacy" to describe the complexity or detailed nature of something. For example, "The "intricacy" of the design was impressive."

What can I say instead of "intricacy"?

You can use alternatives like "complexity", "elaborateness", or "detailed nature" depending on the specific context.

Is "intricacy" a positive or negative word?

"Intricacy" is generally a neutral to positive word, often implying skill, care, or beauty in the complex details of something. However, it can be negative if the "intricacy" makes something overly complicated or difficult to understand.

What's the difference between "intricacy" and "complexity"?

"Intricacy" emphasizes the detailed and elaborate nature of something, often suggesting a high degree of skill or artistry. "Complexity", on the other hand, simply refers to the state of being complicated or difficult.