byzantinism
/bɪˈzæntɪnɪzəm/
noun
- A system or practice that is overly complicated, secretive, and bureaucratic, often involving many rules and procedures.
- The company's byzantinism made it impossible to get a simple refund without filling out ten forms.
- Citizens complained about the byzantinism of the local government, where permits took months to approve.
- The novel criticizes the byzantinism of the legal system, where even lawyers get lost in the rules.
- A style or quality of being intricate, devious, or difficult to understand, like a complex puzzle.
- The architect's design had a certain byzantinism, with hidden passages and secret rooms.
- The plot of the movie was full of byzantinism, with twists that confused most viewers.
- His byzantinism in negotiations meant no one ever knew his true intentions.