1
as in to complex
to make complex or difficult
the need to go to both a PTA conference and condo board meeting really complicates tonight's schedule
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in complicated
having many parts or aspects that are usually interrelated
the kind of complicate machinery that is used in the field of robotics
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of complicate
John Wenzel, Denver Post, 11 Feb. 2026
For both passengers and crews, El Paso's location is a further complicating factor.
—Zach Wichter, USA Today, 11 Feb. 2026
Brian Delp, Forbes.com, 9 Sep. 2025
The shift would send states scrambling and complicate parents’ efforts to get young children vaccinated ahead of the coming respiratory virus season.
—Alexis Simendinger, The Hill, 14 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for complicate
Verb
But that can slow or complicate a production, if not anger the director and producers.
—John Wenzel, Denver Post, 11 Feb. 2026
For both passengers and crews, El Paso's location is a further complicating factor.
—Zach Wichter, USA Today, 11 Feb. 2026
Adjective
Families today are more anchored: two-income households complicate moves, aging demographics keep older homeowners in place, and many are locked into mortgage rates under 4%, unwilling to trade up into costlier loans.
—Brian Delp, Forbes.com, 9 Sep. 2025
The shift would send states scrambling and complicate parents’ efforts to get young children vaccinated ahead of the coming respiratory virus season.
—Alexis Simendinger, The Hill, 14 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for complicate
Recent Examples of Synonyms for complicate
Verb
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Cuba’s energy crisis has deepened and daily blackouts sometimes last more than 24 hours at a time on some parts of the island.—
Nora Gamez Torres,
Miami Herald,
14 Feb. 2026
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These experiences deepen understanding, challenge assumptions, and help students connect Connecticut’s past and present in a more meaningful way.—
Letters to the Editor,
Hartford Courant,
13 Feb. 2026
Adjective
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Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced Mladenov, a Bulgarian diplomat, as the director-general of the board meant to oversee the implementation of the second and far more complicated phase of the ceasefire.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
14 Feb. 2026
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If simple, prefabricated asymmetric carbon fibers can act as tiny actuators, engineers may not need complicated coatings or redesigns to build micro-scale devices.—
Rupendra Brahambhatt,
Interesting Engineering,
14 Feb. 2026
Verb
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French wine and spirits exports have slipped from being traditionally France’s second-largest export sector to third, behind aerospace and cosmetics, as trade tensions intensified.—
Reuters 9 hr ago,
CNN Money,
11 Feb. 2026
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This causes the outer layers of the star to expand and cool, evolving into a red giant, while the interior of the core heats up, intensifying the rate of fusion within it.—
Big Think,
Big Think,
11 Feb. 2026
Verb
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The hospital cleared him for incarceration with a Narcan prescription and instructions to return to the emergency room if symptoms worsened, the lawsuit alleged.—
Theresa Clift,
Sacbee.com,
10 Feb. 2026
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While mandatory restrictions are not expected, Frost said the utility encourages everyday conservation and would coordinate closely with other utilities along the river if drought conditions worsen.—
Nora O'Neill,
Charlotte Observer,
10 Feb. 2026
Adjective
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In one space, costumes can be custom printed and cut using high-tech printers, while another space houses a room full of sewing machines where costumers spend 80 hours crafting an intricate fur-pattern cape with fringes and sequins.—
Patrick Connolly,
The Orlando Sentinel,
13 Feb. 2026
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In addition to featuring intricate lacework, some pieces stand out for being crafted from chiffon and fluid satins, being punctuated by tiny floral embroideries and cascading daisy embellishments or simply for their buttery hues that add to the classic black and white propositions.—
Sandra Salibian,
Footwear News,
13 Feb. 2026
Verb
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One day, Will goes viral after embarrassing ROAR league MVP, Mane Attraction (Aaron Pierre), during a streetball challenge, prompting his favorite team, the Vineland Thorns, to sign him to a season-ending contract in a desperate attempt to juice ticket sales.—
Brian Davids,
HollywoodReporter,
11 Feb. 2026
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The case has deeply embarrassed the royal family, especially his mother, who suffers from an incurable lung illness and who is torn between her role as mother and future queen.—
CBS News,
CBS News,
10 Feb. 2026
Verb
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The consequences of Russian strikes are aggravated in many urban areas by reliance on centralized heating systems, a legacy of the Soviet era.—
Tim Lister,
CNN Money,
8 Feb. 2026
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Kendall Coleman, 28, pleaded guilty Thursday to charges of second-degree assault and aggravated fleeing a stop or detention causing physical injury, according to a guilty plea document filed in Jackson County court.—
Caroline Zimmerman,
Kansas City Star,
7 Feb. 2026
Adjective
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Overwhelm, already a danger to investigators managing a complex case, isn’t helped by online conspiracy theorists and other noisemakers.—
Paige Williams,
New Yorker,
14 Feb. 2026
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The two supermassive black holes in the centers of each galaxy fall into orbit together and, like their stellar-mass cousins, can eventually spiral in and combine (though the details of this are a bit complex).—
Phil Plait,
Scientific American,
13 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Complicate.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/complicate. Accessed 15 Feb. 2026.
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