labyrinthine

adjective

lab·​y·​rin·​thine ˌla-bə-ˈrin(t)-thən  -ˈrin-ˌthīn  -ˌthēn 

1

: of, relating to, or resembling a labyrinth : intricate, involved

2

: of, relating to, affecting, or originating in the internal ear

labyrinthine lesions

Synonyms of labyrinthine

• intricate
• complicated
• complicate
• complex
• sophisticated

Examples of labyrinthine in a Sentence

labyrinthine politics that left us totally befuddled

Recent Examples on the Web

Cost increases of this kind come about via a labyrinthine procedure known as a rate case. —Nick Bowlin, Harpers Magazine, 30 Dec. 2025

Félix’s wife, Yessy, managed to hold everything together while navigating the labyrinthine legal process to fight for his release. —Jordan Salama, New Yorker, 30 Dec. 2025

In labyrinthine souqs by cascading plateaus of trash, customers haggled over Europe’s fashion waste. —Nabil Salih, Time, 4 Dec. 2025

Hours before the awards ceremony, the veteran exec is still sprightly trodding the labyrinthine corridors of the festival home of the International Theatre Amsterdam. —Rafa Sales Ross, Variety, 20 Nov. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1632, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for labyrinthine

• acetylene
• adenosine
• amphetamine
• anthropocene
• antipyrine
• apomorphine
• apoprotein
• aquamarine
• arsphenamine
• azobenzene
• buprenorphine
• chlorobenzene

Medical Definition

labyrinthine

adjective

lab·​y·​rin·​thine -ˈrin(t)-thən; -ˈrin-ˌthīn  -ˌthēn 

: of, relating to, affecting, or originating in the inner ear

human labyrinthine lesions