labyrinth
The ancient palace was designed like a labyrinth, with winding corridors that confused intruders.
The palace's confusing layout made it difficult to navigate, like a maze.
A complicated irregular network of passages or paths in which it is difficult to find one's way; a maze.
The hedge maze at the garden was a simple labyrinth compared to the ancient ruins.
The garden's hedge maze was easy to solve, unlike the ancient ruins' complex layout.
She felt lost in the labyrinth of regulations and legal jargon.
The complex rules and technical language made the process overwhelming.
Often used metaphorically to describe anything complex or confusing, such as bureaucratic systems or abstract concepts.
Collocations
Related Phrases
Pro Tip
Avoid confusion with 'maze'
'Labyrinth' often suggests a more intricate or symbolic design, while 'maze' may refer to a puzzle-like structure. Use 'labyrinth' for metaphorical complexity or historical/architectural contexts.
Gold Rule
Use 'labyrinth' for metaphorical complexity
When describing abstract or systemic complexity (e.g., bureaucracy, regulations), 'labyrinth' is more evocative than 'maze'.
Word Origin
From Latin labyrinthus, from Greek λαβύρινθος (labúrinthos), possibly from a pre-Greek substrate language, related to the mythical Labyrinth of Crete (the maze built by Daedalus for King Minos to imprison the Minotaur).
Usage Notes
While 'labyrinth' and 'maze' are often used interchangeably, 'labyrinth' can imply a more intricate or symbolic design, whereas 'maze' may refer to a puzzle-like structure. 'Labyrinth' is also used in figurative contexts to describe anything overwhelmingly complex.