complicated 1 of 2

Definition of complicatednext

complicated

2 of 2

verb

past tense of complicate

Synonym Chooser

How does the adjective complicated differ from other similar words?

Some common synonyms of complicated are complex, intricate, involved, and knotty. While all these words mean "having confusingly interrelated parts," complicated applies to what offers great difficulty in understanding, solving, or explaining.

complicated legal procedures

When might complex be a better fit than complicated?

The words complex and complicated can be used in similar contexts, but complex suggests the unavoidable result of a necessary combining and does not imply a fault or failure.

a complex recipe

When would intricate be a good substitute for complicated?

The synonyms intricate and complicated are sometimes interchangeable, but intricate suggests such interlacing of parts as to make it nearly impossible to follow or grasp them separately.

an intricate web of deceit

When is it sensible to use involved instead of complicated?

The words involved and complicated are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, involved implies extreme complication and often disorder.

a rambling, involved explanation

When is knotty a more appropriate choice than complicated?

Although the words knotty and complicated have much in common, knotty suggests complication and entanglement that make solution or understanding improbable.

knotty ethical questions

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of complicated
Adjective
The hard part is proving that floating AI nodes can survive rough seas, limited satellite links and complicated maintenance. Kurt Knutsson, FOXNews.com, 15 May 2026 No digging through complicated settings or waiting around for a full system overhaul. Stackcommerce Team, PC Magazine, 15 May 2026
Verb
Internal Microsoft emails from 2018 presented in court complicated the warm partnership narrative. Anisha Sircar, Forbes.com, 16 May 2026 Dinah suffered from some kind of cancer, complicated by a stroke, liver damage, and erythropoietic protoporphyria. Stephen King, The Atlantic, 15 May 2026 See All Example Sentences for complicated
Recent Examples of Synonyms for complicated
Adjective
  • These are common but complicate long-term planning for federal agencies.
    Hollie Silverman, MSNBC Newsweek, 30 Sep. 2025
  • 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
  • The ministry is part of Gaza’s Hamas-run government, but staffed by medical professionals who maintain and publish detailed records viewed as generally reliable by the international community.
    Samy Magdy, Chicago Tribune, 16 May 2026
  • While other operators submitted detailed incident summaries to the US regulator, Tesla blacked out every narrative entirely, labeling them as confidential business information.
    Bojan Stojkovski, Interesting Engineering, 16 May 2026
Verb
  • This cut has sophisticated, sleek style.
    Kaitlyn Yarborough, Southern Living, 1 Apr. 2026
  • Artificial intelligence and the expansion of remote and virtual care mean that malicious hackers have sophisticated new tools and increased opportunities to target hospitals.
    Jeffrey Tully, Fortune, 26 Mar. 2026
Verb
  • When asked if there was one particular incident that aggravated the knee, Webb pointed to his recent start against the Philadelphia Phillies at Citizens Bank Park on April 30.
    Justice delos Santos, Mercury News, 9 May 2026
  • Ingram aggravated a heel injury that bothered him late in the regular season in the second quarter of Wednesday’s Game 5.
    Eric Koreen, New York Times, 1 May 2026
Adjective
  • One of the most important traditions is pineapple pole plaiting, in which artisans weave and shape materials into intricate forms.
    Taryn White, Forbes.com, 15 May 2026
  • The intricate family drama uses Christianity as a pillar, but extends outward to explore the sticky nuances and unexpected circumstances that arise amid major life changes.
    Aramide Tinubu, Variety, 15 May 2026
Adjective
  • The long answer is a little more complex.
    Diana Bocco, USA Today, 15 May 2026
  • This single-sensor approach removes the need for the complex calibration typically required when combining separate lidar and camera systems.
    Aman Tripathi, Interesting Engineering, 15 May 2026
Verb
  • Meehan’s family soon moved to the Toures’ neighborhood, and the friendship deepened.
    Yudhijit Bhattacharjee, New Yorker, 18 May 2026
  • Relations between China and Russia have deepened in recent years, particularly since the start of Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in early 2022 left Moscow shunned on the global stage and heavily reliant on Beijing for trade due to Western sanctions.
    ABC News, ABC News, 16 May 2026
Adjective
  • Given the elaborate literary apparatus, the surprise is that the recipes mostly work, yielding cumin-y plovs with crispy-rice bottoms and rich Uyghur lamb noodles.
    The Atlantic, The Atlantic, 14 May 2026
  • Another fun and unusual offering here is gourd art ($109), which is much more elaborate than carving a pumpkin.
    Mindy Sink, Denver Post, 14 May 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Complicated.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/complicated. Accessed 20 May. 2026.

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