as in complicated
having many parts or aspects that are usually interrelated
spent his first year at the Pentagon just trying to fathom its byzantine workings
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Recent Examples of byzantine
At the same time, many owners of homes and businesses that burned down are more focused on navigating the byzantine rebuilding process and trying to sell their lots than on maintaining their properties.
—
Connor Sheets,
Los Angeles Times,
26 June 2026
Lasdun, by contrast, insists on delivering a meticulous retelling of the Murdaugh case, complete with byzantine subplots involving the suspicious death of the family’s housekeeper and the murder of another local teenager.
—
Literary Hub,
25 June 2026
Following a behind-schedule and over-budget redevelopment by Transport for London, the roundabout was replaced last year with a byzantine road and cycle lane layout which, peppered with traffic lights, causes constant congestion in the area.
—
Ian King,
CNBC,
10 June 2026
Connor, as a soccer novice, initially had no clue how the byzantine qualification process worked.
—
Henry Bushnell,
New York Times,
3 June 2026
The long-form contract has become a byzantine artifact, a ritual of delay that benefits no one except perhaps the law firms billing hours on both ends.
—
George Heller,
HollywoodReporter,
6 May 2026
Washington—what with its byzantine rules and aggressive gridlock—would not box him in.
—
Philip Elliott,
Time,
15 Apr. 2026
This byzantine corporate structure apparently did not exist until Altman devised it.
—
Ronan Farrow,
New Yorker,
6 Apr. 2026
The utility has more than 2 million power and water customers and is governed by byzantine rules.
—
ABC News,
6 Apr. 2026
Connor Sheets,
Los Angeles Times,
26 June 2026
Lasdun, by contrast, insists on delivering a meticulous retelling of the Murdaugh case, complete with byzantine subplots involving the suspicious death of the family’s housekeeper and the murder of another local teenager.
—
Literary Hub,
25 June 2026
Following a behind-schedule and over-budget redevelopment by Transport for London, the roundabout was replaced last year with a byzantine road and cycle lane layout which, peppered with traffic lights, causes constant congestion in the area.
—
Ian King,
CNBC,
10 June 2026
Connor, as a soccer novice, initially had no clue how the byzantine qualification process worked.
—
Henry Bushnell,
New York Times,
3 June 2026
The long-form contract has become a byzantine artifact, a ritual of delay that benefits no one except perhaps the law firms billing hours on both ends.
—
George Heller,
HollywoodReporter,
6 May 2026
Washington—what with its byzantine rules and aggressive gridlock—would not box him in.
—
Philip Elliott,
Time,
15 Apr. 2026
This byzantine corporate structure apparently did not exist until Altman devised it.
—
Ronan Farrow,
New Yorker,
6 Apr. 2026
The utility has more than 2 million power and water customers and is governed by byzantine rules.
—
ABC News,
6 Apr. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for byzantine
Adjective
-
But a closer examination paints a more complicated picture.
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The city also has some of the world’s most complicated rules about air-conditioning installation.
Adjective
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Coben, who also serves as an executive producer, explains the difficulty of creating the intricate inner worlds of each character and their doubts about David, all while dropping hints that reveal David's innocence in each episode.
-
The Arabesque necklace, for example, which requires 1,450 hours of work, features intricate rose gold illuminated by 18 fancy rose-cut diamonds.
Adjective
-
These are common but complicate long-term planning for federal agencies.
-
Despite differing views on a variety of security issues, the group, like Gilpatric’s, reached a clear consensus: nuclear proliferation by any additional country would diminish U.S. power, complicate strategic planning, and increase the likelihood of nuclear use, accidents, and disasters.
Adjective
-
Storms involve complex flows originating over a wide region and evolving in complicated ways.
-
Police say the violence on Sydney’s streets is being orchestrated from abroad – and teenagers are being lured into the complex web of gang warfare with the promise of fast cash.
Adjective
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Options trading for SpaceX started last week, allowing investors to place more sophisticated bets on where the stock is headed next, and quickly saw a surge in interest.
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The crisp white denim is a sophisticated choice for July 4, as well as the rest of summer.
Cite this Entry
“Byzantine.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/byzantine. Accessed 3 Jul. 2026.
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