intricate

USAGE SUMMARY

The word 'intricate' is correct and can be used in written English.
It can be used to describe something that is very complex and detailed. Example sentence: The artist created an intricate painting with an array of colors and textures.

✓ 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

When describing designs, patterns, or systems, use "intricate" to convey a sense of sophisticated detail and complexity. For example, "The watch had an intricate mechanism.".

Common error

Avoid using "intricate" to describe something that is simply complex or complicated. "Intricate" implies a level of fine detail and artistry that may not be present in all complex situations. For a general level of complexity, consider "complex" or "complicated" instead.

Linguistic Context

The word "intricate" functions primarily as an adjective, modifying nouns to describe something possessing complex details or elaborate features. Ludwig AI confirms the word is correct and appropriate for use in written English. Examples include "intricate designs" and "intricate patterns".

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

43%

Formal & Business

30%

Science

27%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "intricate" is a versatile adjective used to describe things with a high degree of detail and complexity. Ludwig AI confirms it's grammatically sound and widely applicable in various contexts. While alternatives like "complex" or "detailed" exist, "intricate" specifically emphasizes fine, elaborate details. Remember to reserve its use for situations where this level of detail is truly present. With its frequent appearance in news and formal writing, mastering its usage will enhance your descriptive writing across many registers.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

finely detailed

Specifically emphasizes the quality and precision of the details.

complex

Focuses on the overall complexity rather than the fine details.

complex in nature

Emphasizes the inherent complexity of something.

detailed

Emphasizes the presence of many details.

elaborate

Highlights the effort and planning that went into the complexity.

complicated

Suggests difficulty in understanding or dealing with due to its complexity.

sophisticated

Implies a high degree of refinement and complexity.

involved

Indicates that many elements or aspects are interconnected.

convoluted

Suggests that something is unnecessarily complex and difficult to follow.

minute

Highlights the small and precise nature of the details.

FAQs

How can I use "intricate" in a sentence?

You can use "intricate" to describe something with many complex parts or details. For example, "The clock's mechanism was very intricate." or "The novel had an intricate plot."

What words are similar to "intricate"?

Alternatives to "intricate" include "complex", "detailed", "elaborate", and "complicated", depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is it correct to use "intricate" to describe a difficult problem?

While you can use "intricate" to describe a problem, it's more common to use words like "complex" or "complicated". "Intricate" is better suited for describing the detailed nature of the problem's structure, not just its difficulty.

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

"Intricate" implies a high degree of detail and artistry, while "complex" simply means having many parts. An intricate design is always complex, but a complex system isn't necessarily intricate.