Is 'convoluted' formal or informal?

What's the difference between 'convoluted' and 'complex'?

How do I use 'convoluted' in a sentence?

Is 'convoluted' common in academic writing?

← Dictionary

convoluted

/ˈkɒn.və.luː.tɪd/

IELTSAcademic

adjective

The rules are convoluted and hard to follow.
He gave a convoluted explanation that confused everyone.

Adinary Nuance

Near-neighbors: 'convoluted' suggests intricate twists, unlike 'complex' which emphasizes many parts, or 'complicated' which stresses difficulty in understanding. Choose 'convoluted' when describing something winding and excessively twisted.

In other languages

Spanish: Complejo, retorcido
Japanese: 複雑で曲がった
Korean: 복잡하고 굽이친
Vietnamese: Phức tạp, lộn xộn
Chinese: 复杂的，迂回的

Etymology

Included for this word.

Common phrases

a convoluted argumentconvoluted reasoningconvoluted plotconvoluted way

Synonyms

complex complicated intricate tangled twisted

Frequently asked questions

Is 'convoluted' formal or informal?: Is 'convoluted' formal or informal?
What's the difference between 'convoluted' and 'complex'?: What's the difference between 'convoluted' and 'complex'?
How do I use 'convoluted' in a sentence?: How do I use 'convoluted' in a sentence?
Is 'convoluted' common in academic writing?: Is 'convoluted' common in academic writing?