intricate
adjective
in·tri·cate
ˈin-tri-kət 
1
: having many complexly interrelating parts or elements : complicated
intricate machinery
an intricate plot
2
: difficult to resolve or analyze
intricately
adverb
intricateness
noun
Examples of intricate in a Sentence
Filigree is an ancient technique that creates an intricate, lace-like pattern through the combination of wire swirls and shapes.
—
Jeanne Rhodes-Moen, Step by Step Wire Jewelry, Fall 2007
Tsunami generation involves intricate interactions among earthquakes, landslides, and "sympathetic" vibrations between the quake and the ocean above it.
—Robert Koenig, Science, 17 Aug. 2001
However, other random processes can be quite intricate; for example, the fluctuating prices of stocks are difficult to explain because there are so many variables and combinations of variables that are influencing the prices.
—Lloyd Jaisingh, Statistics for the Utterly Confused, 2000
The movie has an intricate plot.
an intricate machine that requires some training to use it properly
Jeanne Rhodes-Moen, Step by Step Wire Jewelry, Fall 2007
Tsunami generation involves intricate interactions among earthquakes, landslides, and "sympathetic" vibrations between the quake and the ocean above it.
—Robert Koenig, Science, 17 Aug. 2001
However, other random processes can be quite intricate; for example, the fluctuating prices of stocks are difficult to explain because there are so many variables and combinations of variables that are influencing the prices.
—Lloyd Jaisingh, Statistics for the Utterly Confused, 2000
The movie has an intricate plot.
an intricate machine that requires some training to use it properly
Recent Examples on the Web
Over the course of three weeks and nearly 150 hours, Mike Elder carefully crafted his honeybee sculpture, welding on antennas and legs, sculpting the yellow and black-striped body from foam and precisely designing its intricate wings.
—Jenna Ebbers, Kansas City Star, 29 May 2026
Notably, Tutt made significant contributions in the design of the intricate parachute system used on NASA’s Artemis II Orion spacecraft mission.
—Pat Maio, Oc Register, 29 May 2026
Across the 2026 and 2027 bridal collections, there’s been a notable emphasis on intricate savoir-faire, with designers embracing the charm of handmade workmanship, including delicate weaves, openwork textures, and crochet-effect embroideries as couture-level details.
—Laura Tortora, Vogue, 29 May 2026
But extremely long-exposure images reveal that Malin 1’s spiral arms include very dim and intricate extensions that span a staggering 650,000 light-years, making this galaxy approximately six times wider than the Milky Way!
—Phil Plait, Scientific American, 29 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for intricate
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Jenna Ebbers, Kansas City Star, 29 May 2026
Notably, Tutt made significant contributions in the design of the intricate parachute system used on NASA’s Artemis II Orion spacecraft mission.
—Pat Maio, Oc Register, 29 May 2026
Across the 2026 and 2027 bridal collections, there’s been a notable emphasis on intricate savoir-faire, with designers embracing the charm of handmade workmanship, including delicate weaves, openwork textures, and crochet-effect embroideries as couture-level details.
—Laura Tortora, Vogue, 29 May 2026
But extremely long-exposure images reveal that Malin 1’s spiral arms include very dim and intricate extensions that span a staggering 650,000 light-years, making this galaxy approximately six times wider than the Milky Way!
—Phil Plait, Scientific American, 29 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for intricate
Cite this Entry
“Intricate.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/intricate. Accessed 31 May. 2026.
Copy CitationKids Definition
intricate
adjective
in·tri·cate
ˈin-tri-kət
: having many complexly interrelating parts, elements, or considerations : complicated
an intricate design
difficult to solve the intricate puzzle
intricately
adverb
intricateness
noun
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