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Word of the Day

Wednesday, January 22, 2025

labyrinthine

/ˌlab(ə)ˈrinTHən/adjective

Like a labyrinth; irregular and twisting; extremely complex and difficult to navigate or understand.

Etymology

From Latin "labyrinthus," from Greek "labyrinthos." Named after the legendary maze built by Daedalus in Crete to house the Minotaur in Greek mythology.

Usage Examples

  1. "The labyrinthine streets of the old city confused even locals."

  2. "Tax law is labyrinthine - full of twists, turns, and dead ends."

  3. "They navigated the labyrinthine bureaucracy to finally get their permit."

Synonyms

  • Maze-like
  • Complex
  • Intricate
  • Convoluted
  • Tortuous

Fun Facts

  • The human inner ear contains the "labyrinth" - a complex system of fluid-filled passages.
  • Hedge mazes in formal gardens are deliberately labyrinthine.
  • The word works both literally (winding paths) and figuratively (complex ideas).

Related Terms

  • Convoluted: Extremely complex and difficult to follow
  • Intricate: Very complicated or detailed
  • Tortuous: Full of twists and turns; excessively lengthy and complex
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