convoluted
twisted together and difficult to follow
Roots
- com-: with, together, complete, or intensified
- volv / volut: roll, turn, wind, or unfold
Other words with the volv / volut root
Convoluted means rolled or wound together until the shape is hard to untangle.
The explanation was so convoluted that a simple diagram helped more than another paragraph.
Convoluted should feel physical first: folds, turns, and coils layered together. Then the abstract meaning is easy: an argument or plan becomes hard to follow because too much is wound together.