convoluted

[ kon-vuh-loo-tid ]

adjective

1. twisted; coiled.
2. complicated; intricately involved:

   a convoluted way of describing a simple device.

convoluted

/ ˈkɒnvəˌluːtɪd /

adjective

1. (esp of meaning, style, etc) difficult to comprehend; involved
2. wound together; coiled

Derived Forms

• ˈconvoˌlutedness, noun
• ˈconvoˌlutedly, adverb

Other Words From

• convo·luted·ly adjective
• convo·luted·ness noun
• un·convo·luted adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of convoluted¹

First recorded in 1805–15; convolute + -ed ²

Example Sentences

How long this final chapter will take, whether it will yield anything like a conclusive verdict on the Trump era and whether it really is the last chapter — or just another twist to the ludicrously convoluted plot — remain to be seen.

From Salon

So where does this rather convoluted row go from here?

From BBC

The convoluted arguments they make to push the idea that Trump is a victim of the system—perhaps much like themselves—are no less dangerous for being comically absurd.

From Slate

In a ruling, Judge Simon Heald said “it appears to us that the AGO initially went about finding private email account details in a convoluted way”, which was “not a sensible way to start”.

From BBC

It sued the company for allegedly violating consumer protection laws with "hidden" termination fees and a convoluted cancellation process.

From BBC

Related Words

• intricate
• labyrinthine
• perplexing
• puzzling
• tangled
• tortuous