intricacy
noun
in·tri·ca·cy
ˈin-tri-kə-sē 
plural intricacies
1
: the quality or state of being intricate
2
: something intricate
the intricacies of a plot
Examples of intricacy in a Sentence
She admired the composition for its beauty and intricacy.
I had trouble following all the intricacies in the plot.
the intricacies of English grammar
Recent Examples on the Web
This conundrum obsessed Tomasino, a cheerful scholar of flavor chemistry whose research, though focussed on wine, has also considered the intricacies of coffee roasting and the impact of terroir on cheese.
—
Nicola Twilley, New Yorker, 5 Jan. 2026
Waguespack, whose ward contains affluent areas including parts of Lakeview, Lincoln Park and Wicker Park, is a former Finance Committee chairman who understands the intricacies of budgeting better than most of his colleagues.
—The Editorial Board, Chicago Tribune, 4 Jan. 2026
Always, understanding comes from pinpointing the relevant factors and forgetting the rest, from compressing nature’s endless intricacies into a human-readable story about the universe.
—Quanta Magazine, 17 Dec. 2025
During this time, his vibrant photos of people set against backdrops of seaside towns, village fairs and public swimming pools captured the attention of an international fan base and celebrated the quirks and intricacies of everyday British life.
—Caitlin Danaher, CNN Money, 7 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for intricacy
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Nicola Twilley, New Yorker, 5 Jan. 2026
Waguespack, whose ward contains affluent areas including parts of Lakeview, Lincoln Park and Wicker Park, is a former Finance Committee chairman who understands the intricacies of budgeting better than most of his colleagues.
—The Editorial Board, Chicago Tribune, 4 Jan. 2026
Always, understanding comes from pinpointing the relevant factors and forgetting the rest, from compressing nature’s endless intricacies into a human-readable story about the universe.
—Quanta Magazine, 17 Dec. 2025
During this time, his vibrant photos of people set against backdrops of seaside towns, village fairs and public swimming pools captured the attention of an international fan base and celebrated the quirks and intricacies of everyday British life.
—Caitlin Danaher, CNN Money, 7 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for intricacy
Cite this Entry
“Intricacy.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/intricacy. Accessed 9 Jan. 2026.
Copy CitationKids Definition
intricacy
noun
in·tri·ca·cy
ˈin-tri-kə-sē
plural intricacies
1
: the quality or state of being intricate
2
: something intricate
the intricacies of the plot
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