puzzlelike
Requiring careful solving
Resembling or suggestive of a puzzle—complex, fragmented, or requiring assembly to understand.
The word describes things that present themselves in pieces rather than as coherent wholes: The novel's puzzlelike structure rewards patient readers, puzzlelike rock formations that seemed deliberately arranged.
Puzzle demanding clever thought
- conundrumPerplexing problem or question
- riddlePuzzling question to solve
- perplexingCausing mental confusion
- trickyDifficult to handle
demanding · taxing · knotty · thorny · problematic · difficult · tough · vexing
Obscure in meaning
- mysteriousBeyond easy comprehension
- inscrutableImpossible to understand
- obscureUnknown to most
- sphinxlikeMysterious and impassive
opaque · unfathomable · inexplicable · veiled · ambiguous · elusive · coded · hidden
Extremely complex and winding
- convolutedExcessively complex or twisted
- complexHaving many interconnected parts
- complicatedDifficult to understand
- tangledTwisted confusedly together
byzantine · tortuous · interwoven · multifaceted · serpentine · mazelike · interconnected · layered
Arousing eager interest
- fascinatingExtremely interesting or captivating
- engagingPleasantly attractive, compelling attention
- absorbingHolding attention completely
- thought-provokingPrompting serious reflection
compelling · stimulating · curious · riveting · arresting · enticing · alluring · tantalizingly
brainteaser
Puzzle demanding clever thought
- conundrumPerplexing problem or question
- riddlePuzzling question to solve
- perplexingCausing mental confusion
tricky · demanding · taxing · knotty · thorny · problematic · difficult · tough · vexing · arduous
cryptic
Obscure in meaning
- mysteriousBeyond easy comprehension
- inscrutableImpossible to understand
- obscureUnknown to most
sphinxlike · opaque · unfathomable · inexplicable · veiled · ambiguous · elusive · coded · hidden · secretive
labyrinthine
Extremely complex and winding
- convolutedExcessively complex or twisted
- complexHaving many interconnected parts
- complicatedDifficult to understand
tangled · byzantine · tortuous · interwoven · multifaceted · serpentine · mazelike · interconnected · layered · nested
intriguing
Arousing eager interest
- fascinatingExtremely interesting or captivating
- engagingPleasantly attractive, compelling attention
- absorbingHolding attention completely
thought-provoking · compelling · stimulating · curious · riveting · arresting · enticing · alluring · tantalizingly · addictive
puzzlelikestraightforward
Clear and uncomplicated
clear · obvious · transparent · self-evident · plain
puzzlelikesimple
Free of complexity
direct · linear · uncomplicated · elementary · basic
puzzle, puzzled, puzzling, puzzles, puzzler, puzzlement, puzzlers, puzzlements, unpuzzling