Meaning & use
intricate
Last updated
UK/ˈɪntrɪkət/
US/ˈɪntrɪkət/
Meaning
adjectivecomparable
Made of many small, carefully arranged parts, so that it is complicated and detailed.
Grammar: Used before a noun or after a verb: an intricate pattern, the design is intricate.
The rug has an intricate pattern of flowers and vines.
The watch contains an intricate system of tiny gears.
She did intricate embroidery along the collar.
Word forms
| comparative | more intricate |
|---|---|
| superlative | most intricate |
Common combinations
- intricate design
- The box was covered in an intricate design.
- intricate detail
- The model was built in intricate detail.
- intricate plot
- The novel has an intricate plot.
- intricate network
- An intricate network of tunnels lies beneath the city.
Synonyms and how they differ
- elaborate
- Elaborate suggests a lot of planned decoration or effort, but not always fine, interwoven detail.
- complicated
- Complicated usually suggests difficulty to understand, whereas intricate often suggests delicate beauty.
- delicate
- Delicate stresses fineness or fragility, not the number of connected parts.
Opposites
Word family
- intricacy noun
- the quality of being intricate, or a fine detail
- intricately adverb
- in a detailed, complex way
Commonly confused: intricate or intrigue?
intricate vs intrigue
Intrigue is a verb or noun about arousing interest or secret plotting, not about complex detail.
Practice
The jeweler spent weeks on the ___ carving along the ring.
Choose one answer.
Intricate describes fine, detailed work. Blunt, vague, and hasty do not fit careful carving.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “intricate”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.
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