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
Looking to grow your vocabulary? Check out this interactive, curated word list from our team of English language specialists at Vocabulary.com – one of over 17,000 lists we've built to help learners worldwide!
"The Palace Thief" by Ethan Canin
Interested in learning more words like this one? Our team at Vocabulary.com has got you covered! You can review flashcards, quiz yourself, practice spelling, and more – and it's all completely free to use!
This Week in Words: July 20–26, 2019
Want to remember this word for good? Start your learning journey today with our library of interactive, themed word lists built by the experts at Vocabulary.com – we'll help you make the most of your study time!
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.
U.S. interest in commercial nuclear power weakened over time because of the industry’s immense capital costs, labyrinthine regulations, high-profile reactor accidents and public-safety concerns.
From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 24, 2026
Driving the growth in marine traffic is a widespread idea that the Northwest Passage—a labyrinthine network of straits and channels connecting the Atlantic and Pacific oceans through the Arctic—will soon become a sustainable freight thoroughfare.
From The Wall Street Journal • Nov. 30, 2025
For now, the mood is exuberant at Renate, a labyrinthine club with multiple DJs housed in a dimly-lit complex near the Spree river, a Berlin institution which recently celebrated its 18th birthday.
From Barron's • Oct. 16, 2025
“And people are always shocked to see what it looks like for children to navigate a labyrinthine legal system by themselves.”
From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 31, 2025
Huge Greek medallions showed in spots of light upon its façade, above a dark labyrinthine pattern in the stone, and I propped her against the stoop with its carved stone monster.
From "Invisible Man" by Ralph Ellison
Definitions 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.
