adj
convoluted
kon-vuh-LOO-tihd
adj
1
Extremely complicated and hard to follow.
"His explanation was so convoluted that nobody understood it."
"The plot of the film is needlessly convoluted."
2
Having many twists, coils, or folds.
"The shell had a convoluted, spiralling shape."
How to Use Convoluted
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishOverly complicated, twisted, or hard to follow — used for both physical shapes and confusing explanations.
Common pairings
convoluted plot
convoluted argument
convoluted explanation
Word Forms
more convoluted comparative, most convoluted superlative
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Etymology
From Latin convolutus, "rolled together, twisted" — related to "revolve."