involuted
Rolled inward, complex
Involuted describes something intricately coiled, rolled inward, or turned back on itself.
The word applies to biological structures like shells or leaves that spiral inward, and extends to anything elaborately complex or convoluted: an involuted plot, involuted prose.
The complexity often implies difficulty following the twists: His involuted reasoning lost the jury.
Curve winding around center
- coiledArranged in spirals
- whorledSpiral-patterned in form
- helixSpiraling three-dimensional curve
- gyrusCerebral cortex ridge
cortex · sulcus · nautilus · fiddlehead · scroll · conch · cochlea · intestinal
Difficult to comprehend
- reconditeObscure and specialized
- arcaneUnderstood by few
- esotericAccessible to few
- opaqueImpassable to light
cryptic · inscrutable · impenetrable · dense · difficult · inaccessible · perplexing · enigmatic
Extremely complex and winding
- byzantineDauntingly intricate and devious
- tortuousFull of twists
- intricateElaborately detailed, many parts
- elaborateComplex and detailed
tangled · knotted · serpentine · entangled · intertwined · interwoven · snarled · enmeshed
Declined from underuse
- regressedReturned to earlier state
- degeneratedDeclined from better state
- shrunkenReduced from original dimensions
- witheredDried and shrunken
diminished · retrogressed · devolved · declined · deteriorated · senescent
Examining one's own mind
- self-referentialAlluding to itself
- reflexiveDirected back at subject
- inward-turningOriented toward oneself
- contemplativeInclined to deep thought
solipsistic · recursive · circular · regressive · withdrawn · introverted · meditative
spiral
Curve winding around center
gyrus · cortex · sulcus · nautilus · fiddlehead · scroll · conch · cochlea · intestinal · rolled
abstruse
Difficult to comprehend
opaque · cryptic · inscrutable · impenetrable · dense · difficult · inaccessible · perplexing · enigmatic · obtuse
labyrinthine
Extremely complex and winding
- byzantineDauntingly intricate and devious
- tortuousFull of twists
- intricateElaborately detailed, many parts
elaborate · tangled · knotted · serpentine · entangled · intertwined · interwoven · snarled · enmeshed · braided
atrophied
Declined from underuse
- regressedReturned to earlier state
- degeneratedDeclined from better state
- shrunkenReduced from original dimensions
withered · diminished · retrogressed · devolved · declined · deteriorated · senescent
introspective
Examining one's own mind
- self-referentialAlluding to itself
- reflexiveDirected back at subject
- inward-turningOriented toward oneself
contemplative · solipsistic · recursive · circular · regressive · withdrawn · introverted · meditative
involutedsimple
Free of complexity
straightforward · uncomplicated · direct · lucid · plain
involutedunfurled
Opened and displayed
unrolled · spread out · flat · extended · outspread
involutedevolved
Changed through successive generations
developing · expanding · growing · maturing · flourishing