obsessive complexity

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "obsessive complexity" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe a situation, concept, or design that is excessively complicated or intricate, often to the point of being counterproductive. Example: "The software's obsessive complexity made it difficult for users to navigate and understand its features."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

Never content with mere description, she illuminated the human condition in all its obsessive complexity in a style that was invariably clear and compelling.

The Guardian - Books

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

58 human-written examples

We had so much in common -- philosophy, P.I. work and an obsessive interest in the complexities of reality.

The New York Times

The tricky, obsessive piano motif reveals a nagging psychological complexity that only music could distill so precisely.

The New York Times - Arts

A rare case of "seasonal" obsessive-compulsive disorder in a woman in highlights the complexity of this mental health condition, researchers say.

Huffington Post

A beneficiary of this legacy, Hopper didn't take photography into the realm where content almost overwhelms form, as did Garry Winogrand; he did not have the visual complexity of Lee Friedlander; nor did he have the obsessive eye of Diane Arbus.

The Guardian - Arts

Delivering his vocal lines with unsnarling warmth of tone, he added complexity to the role, pacing back and forth in obsessive straight lines and suggesting a terrible, bottled-up hatred.

The Guardian - Music

That makes him easy to admire; obsessives and skeptics alike may well be impressed by the clarity and complexity of these rhymes.

The New York Times - Arts

In lieu of creating kaleidoscopic complexities on the set to conjure philosophical abstractions regarding his obsessive themes of sex and society, Berkeley found and stoked those inner tangles and whirls of ideas and emotions in the performances of his stars.

The New Yorker

Case in point: This viral spoken poem by artist Neil Hilborn, which details the complexities of falling in love when you're also dealing with obsessive compulsive disorder.

Huffington Post

But let adults know that their obsessive devotion is feeding something far more frightening than the dark arts: a retreat from the complexities of adulthood in a dangerous world.

The New York Times

For serious actresses, there is no greater challenge than mastering Amanda's complexities: her desperation over her daughter's future, her frustration with her son's disaffection, her obsessive reveries of the past.

The New York Times - Magazine

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "obsessive complexity" when you want to emphasize not just the intricacy of something, but also the intense, almost compulsive focus that creates or maintains that complexity. It implies a level of detail that may be unnecessary or even counterproductive.

Common error

Avoid using "obsessive complexity" when simpler terms like "complicated" or "intricate" would suffice. The phrase is most effective when highlighting an almost pathological level of detail.

Linguistic Context

"Obsessive complexity" functions as a noun phrase, where "obsessive" modifies "complexity". It describes a state or quality characterized by excessive and almost compulsive intricacy. According to Ludwig AI, this phrase is used to describe situations or concepts that are excessively complicated, which can often be counterproductive.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

100%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Science

0%

Academia

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "obsessive complexity" is a noun phrase used to describe situations or concepts marked by an excessive and almost compulsive level of intricacy. Ludwig AI analysis confirms its grammatical correctness and usability. While relatively rare, as demonstrated in Ludwig's examples, the phrase is most frequently found in News & Media contexts and is appropriate for neutral to formal registers. When using the phrase, ensure it accurately reflects an unnecessary or detrimental level of detail, rather than just simple complexity. Consider alternatives like "extreme intricacy" or "excessive meticulousness" depending on the desired nuance.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

obsessive attention to detail

Directly emphasizes the obsessive aspect of focusing on details, implying a high level of complexity arises from this.

compulsive attention to detail

Indicates a driven, often irresistible, focus on minor details that constructs high complexity.

extreme intricacy

Replaces "complexity" with "intricacy" and "obsessive" with "extreme", emphasizing the detailed and elaborate nature.

overly complicated nature

Focuses on the excessively complex characteristic of something, simplifying the phrasing.

excessive meticulousness

Highlights the overly detailed and careful nature of the complexity, focusing on the painstaking attention involved.

extreme convolution

Replaces complexity with convolution to highlight a winding, intricate and difficult-to-follow structure.

pathological intricacy

Suggests an unhealthy or extreme level of detail and complexity.

Byzantine complexity

Alludes to the Byzantine Empire's reputation for intricate and convoluted systems, replacing obsessive with byzantine as a modifier for complexity.

fixation on details

Shifts the focus to the preoccupation with minute aspects contributing to the overall complexity.

unhealthy preoccupation with minutiae

Emphasizes the negative aspect of being overly focused on trivial details, which leads to complexity.

FAQs

How can "obsessive complexity" be used in a sentence?

You might say, "The project failed due to its "obsessive complexity", making it impossible for the team to manage." This emphasizes that the project's downfall was rooted in its overly intricate and compulsive nature.

What is a good alternative to "obsessive complexity"?

Depending on the context, you could use alternatives like "extreme intricacy", "excessive meticulousness", or "overly complicated nature" to convey a similar meaning without the same intensity. The best choice depends on the specific nuance you want to convey.

When is it appropriate to use the phrase "obsessive complexity"?

Use "obsessive complexity" when you want to convey that something is not just complex, but that its complexity is driven by an almost compulsive level of detail or focus. It often implies that this level of detail is unnecessary or even detrimental.

What is the difference between "obsessive complexity" and "Byzantine complexity"?

"Obsessive complexity" refers to a state of intricacy driven by an almost compulsive level of attention to detail. "Byzantine complexity", on the other hand, alludes to systems that are intricate and convoluted, often in a bureaucratic or political sense, drawing a comparison to the historical Byzantine Empire.