complicated
adjective
com·pli·cat·ed
ˈkäm-plə-ˌkā-təd 
1
: consisting of parts intricately combined
a complicated recipe
complicated machinery
2
: difficult to analyze, understand, or explain
a complicated issue
his absurdly complicated life
complicatedly
adverb
complicatedness
noun
Examples of complicated in a Sentence
The game's rules are too complicated.
The machine has a complicated design.
Recent Examples on the Web
Ike Howard’s journey to the Oilers roster is a little more complicated.
—
Allan Mitchell, New York Times, 1 Aug. 2025
Terminology, however, is insufficient: the Promising Young Woman is messier and more complicated than the rape revenge subgenre or tales of women done wrong, a pastiche of contradictions that further mucks up Northrop Frye’s distinct archetypal schema and heightens its own significance.
—Meg Pillow
july 31, Literary Hub, 31 July 2025
Predicting his next move is more complicated, as high wages could provide a major stumbling block for any potential suitors.
—Dan Cancian, Forbes.com, 31 July 2025
What’s changing with enrollment and documentation? Even for Texans who still qualify for Medicaid or ACA subsidies, staying covered will become more complicated.
—Tiffani Jackson, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 31 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for complicated
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Allan Mitchell, New York Times, 1 Aug. 2025
Terminology, however, is insufficient: the Promising Young Woman is messier and more complicated than the rape revenge subgenre or tales of women done wrong, a pastiche of contradictions that further mucks up Northrop Frye’s distinct archetypal schema and heightens its own significance.
—Meg Pillow
july 31, Literary Hub, 31 July 2025
Predicting his next move is more complicated, as high wages could provide a major stumbling block for any potential suitors.
—Dan Cancian, Forbes.com, 31 July 2025
What’s changing with enrollment and documentation? Even for Texans who still qualify for Medicaid or ACA subsidies, staying covered will become more complicated.
—Tiffani Jackson, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 31 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for complicated
Cite this Entry
“Complicated.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/complicated. Accessed 5 Aug. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
complicated
adjective
com·pli·cat·ed
ˈkäm-plə-ˌkāt-əd
1
: consisting of many combined parts
complicated machinery
2
: difficult to analyze, understand, or explain : complex
complicatedly
adverb
complicatedness
noun
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