intricacies

noun

plural of intricacy
as in complexities
something that makes a situation more complicated or difficult just now learning the intricacies of owning one's own business

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of intricacies Such federal funding intricacies could seem far removed from the denizens of a tent city under the highway in San Diego. — Eric Boodman, STAT, 31 July 2026 Those of us who attended a Southern university are aware of the hilarious intricacies of the experience. — Kaitlyn Yarborough, Southern Living, 31 July 2026 Understanding the dynamics of as many galaxies as possible will help scientists decode the intricacies of dark matter and dark energy. — Monisha Ravisetti, Space.com, 29 July 2026 Lester ran it as head coach at Western Michigan (2017-22) but dove into its intricacies as a senior analyst in Green Bay in 2023, working under former college teammate Matt LaFleur. — Scott Dochterman, New York Times, 24 July 2026 If a palate is your personal experience and record of taste, mine was formed more through seeking flavors pushed to the brink than detecting delicate intricacies. — Kyle Lucia Wu, Condé Nast Traveler, 19 July 2026 Whereas investment bankers tend to secure financing and bring on limited partners, lawyers navigate the intricacies of a league, organization or company’s rules and restrictions, draft agreements and typically lead deals to the finish line. — Justin Birnbaum, Sportico.com, 13 July 2026 In the years since, the former redevelopment agency worked to come up with a project scope, but ran into various obstacles given the intricacies of the corridor and the various stakeholders, Bibler said. — Jennifer Van Grove, San Diego Union-Tribune, 8 July 2026 The teenager, known then as OC, learns how to pick locks, how to maneuver street code intricacies, and the value of loyalty. — Oline H. Cogdill, Sun Sentinel, 8 July 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for intricacies
  1. complexities
  2. complications
  3. difficulties
Noun
  • Winner of the Envision Award, which is provided to a project that explores the complexities of shared society by combating prejudice and hate.
    — Katie Campione, Deadline, 4 Aug. 2026
  • The bright artwork and friendly prose capture the complexities of kids’ emotions and celebrate the fun that a loving caregiver and child can have together even when life feels tough.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 3 Aug. 2026
Definition of complexities
Noun
  • Postmenopausal women experienced more postoperative complications within 30 days after the surgery than premenopausal women, and men and postmenopausal women had higher postoperative bleeding rates.
    — Crystal Gwizdala, Hartford Courant, 1 Aug. 2026
  • Typically, front office exits such as Yzerman’s occur in mid-April; starting a search in mid-July creates obvious potential complications — namely, that training camp begins in seven weeks.
    — Max Bultman, New York Times, 30 July 2026
Definition of complications
Noun
  • The project to give the pool a facelift to celebrate the United States’ 250th birthday began in April, but has been beset by difficulties after it became plagued by an algae bloom and the pool’s new blue lining began to peel.
    — Emily Hallas, The Washington Examiner, 1 Aug. 2026
  • The economic difficulties, energy blackouts, Internet restrictions, and general wartime fatigue have pushed Putin’s approval ratings from around 80 percent at the beginning of the year to 66 percent in mid-July.
    — Alexander Gabuev, Foreign Affairs, 31 July 2026
Definition of difficulties

Browse Nearby Words

intrepidness
intricacies
intricacy
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Intricacies.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/intricacies. Accessed 9 Aug. 2026.

Copy Citation

More from Merriam-Webster on intricacies

Nglish: Translation of intricacies for Spanish Speakers

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

Listen to the pronunciation of anecdote

See Definitions and Examples »

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

7 Pairs of Commonly Confused Words

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

Is it 'nerve-racking' or 'nerve-wracking'?

'Sneaked' or 'Snuck': Which is correct?

Why does English have so many silent letters?
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

The Longest Long Words List

It's a Scorcher! Words for the Summer Heat

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

The Words of the Week - Aug. 7

How long is a jiffy?
See More

Popular

See More

7 Pairs of Commonly Confused Words

The Longest Long Words List

It's a Scorcher! Words for the Summer Heat
See More

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
The Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
fridge-magnet-letters
Drop a Letter Quiz August 2026 Drop a letter from a word to make a totally diffe...
See All