English Meaning & Definitions
Extremely complex, intricate, or difficult to follow, often due to being unnecessarily complicated.
- “The novel's plot was so convoluted that I had to reread the first three chapters just to understand the character motivations.”
- “He offered a convoluted explanation for why he was late, which only made the boss more suspicious.”
Having many twists, folds, or coils; coiled or spiraled.
- “The surgeon examined the convoluted folds of the cerebral cortex.”
- “The path through the canyon was a convoluted series of narrow turns and hidden passages.”
English Synonyms & Near Equivalents
English Antonyms & Opposites
Comprehensive Thesaurus Breakdown
Compare formal, informal, literary synonyms and register nuances for “convoluted”.
Derived from the Latin 'convolutus', the past participle of 'convolvere', meaning 'to roll together'. The prefix 'con-' (together) combined with 'volvere' (to roll) originally referred to physical twisting or coiling, such as the folds of a brain or the shell of a snail, before evolving into the metaphorical sense of being overly complex or intricate.
Think of a 'con' (complex) 'volute' (volume/scroll) that is rolled up so tightly you cannot find the beginning or the end.
Frequently Asked Questions About “convoluted”
1. What is the meaning of “convoluted” in English?
In English, convoluted (adjective) is defined as: “Extremely complex, intricate, or difficult to follow, often due to being unnecessarily complicated.”.
2. How do you use “convoluted” in a sentence?
“The novel's plot was so convoluted that I had to reread the first three chapters just to understand the character motivations.”
3. What are English synonyms of “convoluted”?
4. What is the etymology and word origin of “convoluted”?
Derived from the Latin 'convolutus', the past participle of 'convolvere', meaning 'to roll together'. The prefix 'con-' (together) combined with 'volvere' (to roll) originally referred to physical twisting or coiling, such as the folds of a brain or the shell of a snail, before evolving into the metaphorical sense of being overly complex or intricate.
🇬🇧More English Words to English
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A specific duration of time equal to one hour and forty-six minutes and twelve seconds.
The cardinal number equal to one thousand million (1,000,000,000), expressed in scientific notation as 10^9.
A specific duration of time equivalent to one hour and forty-six minutes.