labyrinthine
Americanadjective
-
of, relating to, or resembling a labyrinth.
-
complicated; tortuous.
the labyrinthine byways of modern literature.
adjective
-
of or relating to a labyrinth
-
resembling a labyrinth in complexity
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of labyrinthine
Explanation
Labyrinthine is a good word to describe a place that feels like an enormous maze. A new student at a huge, sprawling high school is likely to find the building labyrinthine as she wanders the halls looking for her math class. If you've ever been lost in a hedge maze, you know what a labyrinth is. The adjective labyrinthine describes something that is as confusing, complex, or maze-like as a labyrinth. This could be an actual maze, a city, or even a convoluted idea. The word comes from the Greek labyrinthos, the structure built to contain the mythological Minotaur. In the story, Daedalus did such a good job making the building labyrinthine that he nearly couldn't find his way out.
Vocabulary lists containing labyrinthine
Words to Describe a Place
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"The Palace Thief" by Ethan Canin
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This Week in Words: July 20–26, 2019
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
But how would Muse handle our labyrinthine childcare-booking platform?
From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 29, 2026
For a lobbyist in Brussels, the currency is access: a strong network, a deep knowledge of the EU's labyrinthine institutions and policymakers' trust.
From Barron's ● Sep. 11, 2026
Compared to other quick-service competitors, who are increasingly offering labyrinthine menus with new products rolled out seasonally and limited runs of nostalgia items, Cane’s menu feels sparse, with a sort of Steve Jobs Apple-era minimalism.
From Slate ● Aug. 24, 2026
The concept centers on the idea of accidentally slipping out of normal reality and becoming trapped in this monotonous, labyrinthine environment with no clear exit.
From Science Daily ● Jul. 26, 2026
So we sat there for a couple hours talking to the screen together, navigating this invisible labyrinthine cave without a single lumen of light.
From "The Fault in Our Stars" by John Green
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Get a wordDefinitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
