intricacies

7 synonyms and 2 antonyms for intricacies, grouped by meaning and by how common each one is.

Noun — The small, complicated details of something that make it hard to understand or do well.

Synonyms

Rare, literary or technical

Precise, but they will stand out — check the sense before using one.

complexities subtleties fine points nuances ins and outs elaborateness fine detail

Synonyms by Meaning

1. noun

The small, complicated details of something that make it hard to understand or do well.

“He spent years learning the intricacies of the tax code.”

complexities subtleties fine points nuances ins and outs

Opposites

basics fundamentals

2. noun

Elaborate, finely worked detail in a design or object.

“The intricacies of the carving only show up under raking light.”

elaborateness fine detail

How to use intricacies

The word patterns that sound natural to a native speaker.

the intricacies of master the intricacies grasp the intricacies legal intricacies technical intricacies

Neutral to slightly formal. Almost always used in the plural.

Etymology

From Latin intricare, "to entangle", from tricae, meaning trifles or perplexities.

Full origin of intricacies →

Frequently asked questions

What is the difference between intricacies and complexities?

Complexities suggest a system with many interacting parts and can feel daunting or messy. Intricacies suggest fine, detailed workings that reward close attention. You untangle complexities but you appreciate intricacies.

Can you use intricacy in the singular?

Yes, but it is uncommon. The singular usually names the quality itself, as in "the intricacy of the design", while the plural names the individual details.

Is intricacies a positive or negative word?

It is broadly neutral and often mildly admiring. Calling something intricate implies skilled, detailed work, whereas calling it complicated implies unnecessary difficulty.

People also searched

fundamentals elaborateness

Nearby words

← Back to the full definition of intricacies