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
There are several key sites to explore, like Le Castella, an imposing Medieval fortress on the sea; Santa Severina’s Byzantine architecture and Norman Castle; and Capo Colonna Archaeological Park, known for its Greek and Roman temples and ruins.
—
Gary Portuesi, Travel + Leisure, 30 Sep. 2025
Similar underground storage pits and cisterns are beneath the Church of the Annunciation, among ruins traditionally identified, since the Byzantine period, as Mary’s house.
—Literary Hub, 30 Sep. 2025
The Byzantine era began in the early or late 300s, and ended in 1453 with the invasion of Constantinople by the Ottomans.
—Mitchell Willetts, Kansas City Star, 30 Sep. 2025
One upshot of the menu’s byzantine sprawl is that every visit offers something new to discover.
—Helen Rosner, New Yorker, 28 Sep. 2025
The Hotel Excelsior Venice Lido, a 1908 Moorish fantasy commissioned by entrepreneur Nicolò Spada, boasts Byzantine domes and an eclectic façade that have sheltered everyone from Winston Churchill to Erroll Flynn, from Greta Garbo to Clark Gable.
—Jenn Rice, Forbes.com, 19 Sep. 2025
The olive press suggests that the once-affluent estate was later repurposed for oil production, likely tied to the Samaritan Revolts under Byzantine rule.
—Andrea Margolis, FOXNews.com, 15 Sep. 2025
Congress had enacted byzantine eligibility requirements for disability and Supplemental Security Income benefits, forcing the agency to expend huge amounts of time and money running those programs.
—Eli Hager, ProPublica, 8 Sep. 2025
The project spans decades and grows increasingly Byzantine and bizarre.
—Seth Abramovitch, HollywoodReporter, 4 Sep. 2025
Gary Portuesi, Travel + Leisure, 30 Sep. 2025
Similar underground storage pits and cisterns are beneath the Church of the Annunciation, among ruins traditionally identified, since the Byzantine period, as Mary’s house.
—Literary Hub, 30 Sep. 2025
The Byzantine era began in the early or late 300s, and ended in 1453 with the invasion of Constantinople by the Ottomans.
—Mitchell Willetts, Kansas City Star, 30 Sep. 2025
One upshot of the menu’s byzantine sprawl is that every visit offers something new to discover.
—Helen Rosner, New Yorker, 28 Sep. 2025
The Hotel Excelsior Venice Lido, a 1908 Moorish fantasy commissioned by entrepreneur Nicolò Spada, boasts Byzantine domes and an eclectic façade that have sheltered everyone from Winston Churchill to Erroll Flynn, from Greta Garbo to Clark Gable.
—Jenn Rice, Forbes.com, 19 Sep. 2025
The olive press suggests that the once-affluent estate was later repurposed for oil production, likely tied to the Samaritan Revolts under Byzantine rule.
—Andrea Margolis, FOXNews.com, 15 Sep. 2025
Congress had enacted byzantine eligibility requirements for disability and Supplemental Security Income benefits, forcing the agency to expend huge amounts of time and money running those programs.
—Eli Hager, ProPublica, 8 Sep. 2025
The project spans decades and grows increasingly Byzantine and bizarre.
—Seth Abramovitch, HollywoodReporter, 4 Sep. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for byzantine
Adjective
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Moreover, parlay bets are getting more complicated as time goes on, decreasing the chances of winning.—
Sasha Rogelberg,
Fortune,
11 Oct. 2025
-
Peter Hedges’s drama about a young recovering addict (Lucas Hedges) coming back unannounced to his family starts off promisingly, with Roberts’s supportive but wary character trying to manage her complicated feelings about her son’s return.—
Bilge Ebiri,
Vulture,
10 Oct. 2025
Adjective
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Defensive struggles are all connected, because football is beautifully intricate like that, but the secondary is a problem.—
Steven Louis Goldstein,
New York Times,
12 Oct. 2025
-
Shortly after its dawn, dresses produced by Paris’ leading fashion houses, such as Poiret, Chanel and Lanvin, were envisaged with the same geometric, linear designs and intricate decorations that were characteristic of the revolutionary movement.—
Sofia Celeste,
Footwear News,
11 Oct. 2025
Adjective
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These are common but complicate long-term planning for federal agencies.—
Amanda Castro,
MSNBC Newsweek,
29 Sep. 2025
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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.—
MARIANO-FLORENTINO CUÉLLAR,
Foreign Affairs,
25 Sep. 2025
Adjective
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With natural, biodegradable, and inexpensive components, such batteries could one day provide an eco-friendly alternative for powering homes or small devices without relying on toxic metals or complex supply chains.—
Aamir Khollam,
Interesting Engineering,
16 Oct. 2025
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The full and final details of what would be a very complex operation for tax and legal reasons are still being worked out, sources said.—
Dermot Corrigan,
New York Times,
16 Oct. 2025
Adjective
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Just as sophisticated as Hamas, which built hundreds of miles of underground tunnels as part of its preparations for war with Israel?—
Sal Rodriguez,
Oc Register,
13 Oct. 2025
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Spanning the entire 54th floor of the sinuous Echo Brickell is one such mansion in the sky, this one a sophisticated assemblage of high-quality finishes and bold design.—
Mark David,
Robb Report,
13 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Byzantine.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/byzantine. Accessed 16 Oct. 2025.
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