Labyrinthine
adjective /ˌlæbəˈrɪnθɪn/ — Complex in a way that makes you feel lost.
Definition
Of, resembling, or characteristic of a labyrinth; highly intricate and confusing; bewilderingly complex.
Beyond the definition
The original labyrinth was built by Daedalus to contain the Minotaur — a maze with no clear way out. Labyrinthine isn't just 'complicated'. It carries the specific disorientation of not knowing which way leads forward, of effort that doesn't resolve into progress.
Origin & history
From Greek labyrinthos — the structure built by Daedalus in Crete to imprison the Minotaur. The word's origins are pre-Greek, possibly from an Aegean root meaning 'double-axe'.
Example sentences
Illustrative sentences for learning, not verified community posts or sourced quotations.
The labyrinthine bureaucracy swallowed their application for months without trace.
She navigated the labyrinthine alleys of the old city without a map, trusting instinct.
His reasoning was brilliant but labyrinthine — you could follow it, but not follow him back.
How to use it
This entry uses an adjective. Follow the examples for the nouns it describes and its position in the sentence.
Choose “Labyrinthine” when the meaning fits your context: Of, resembling, or characteristic of a labyrinth; highly intricate and confusing; bewilderingly complex.
Synonyms
intricate, maze-like, convoluted, tortuous, complex
Antonyms
straightforward, simple, direct
Related words
Word in the Wild
Illustrative story: an imagined scene, not a documented event or interview.
She had been navigating the insurance claim for six months. Each form required a document that required another form that referenced a department that had been reorganised.
A clerk she finally reached, apologetically, said: "The system wasn't designed badly. It wasn't designed at all. It just grew."
She found this more comforting than anything official. The maze had no architect, which meant there was no one to blame, which meant the only way through it was patience and a very particular kind of perseverance — not anger, just the refusal to stop moving.
Questions about this word
What does "Labyrinthine" mean?
Labyrinthine is adjective meaning: Complex in a way that makes you feel lost.. Of, resembling, or characteristic of a labyrinth; highly intricate and confusing; bewilderingly complex.
Where does the word "Labyrinthine" come from?
From Greek labyrinthos — the structure built by Daedalus in Crete to imprison the Minotaur. The word's origins are pre-Greek, possibly from an Aegean root meaning 'double-axe'.