1
as in intensifies
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
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in deepens
to make more severe
asthma that has recently been complicated by a bout of bronchitis
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of complicates
That argument substantially complicates the policy and procedures surrounding IVF.
—
Martin E. Comas, The Orlando Sentinel, 7 Feb. 2026
The idea of paying kids for self-care somewhat complicates that picture.
—Hannah Nwoko, Parents, 7 Feb. 2026
More recent research from the University of Pennsylvania’s Wharton School complicates that finding.
—Preston Fore, Fortune, 6 Feb. 2026
But where the Rally AI range really shines is for boardrooms, classrooms, and town halls where the scale complicates remote participation.
—New Atlas, 4 Feb. 2026
In particular, phase-change materials tend to leak during the liquid-to-solid transition, which complicates practical applications.
—Mrigakshi Dixit, Interesting Engineering, 3 Feb. 2026
Adding other teams to the mix only complicates the deal-making process.
—Jon Krawczynski, New York Times, 3 Feb. 2026
Jovic’s poison pill that complicates a trade disappears July 1.
—Barry Jackson, Miami Herald, 3 Feb. 2026
The shift complicates the geopolitical map.
—Scott Montgomery, Forbes.com, 30 Jan. 2026
Martin E. Comas, The Orlando Sentinel, 7 Feb. 2026
The idea of paying kids for self-care somewhat complicates that picture.
—Hannah Nwoko, Parents, 7 Feb. 2026
More recent research from the University of Pennsylvania’s Wharton School complicates that finding.
—Preston Fore, Fortune, 6 Feb. 2026
But where the Rally AI range really shines is for boardrooms, classrooms, and town halls where the scale complicates remote participation.
—New Atlas, 4 Feb. 2026
In particular, phase-change materials tend to leak during the liquid-to-solid transition, which complicates practical applications.
—Mrigakshi Dixit, Interesting Engineering, 3 Feb. 2026
Adding other teams to the mix only complicates the deal-making process.
—Jon Krawczynski, New York Times, 3 Feb. 2026
Jovic’s poison pill that complicates a trade disappears July 1.
—Barry Jackson, Miami Herald, 3 Feb. 2026
The shift complicates the geopolitical map.
—Scott Montgomery, Forbes.com, 30 Jan. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for complicates
Verb
-
Nigerian energy companies have ramped up oil production over the past year as the government intensifies its efforts to restart dormant refineries and monetize untapped gas reserves.—
Alexander Onukwue,
semafor.com,
9 Feb. 2026
-
When temperatures drop below 32 degrees after dark, the city activates enhanced Code Blue, which intensifies outreach and relaxes shelter rules to bring more people indoors.—
Jeffrey Ginsburg,
New York Daily News,
9 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
This overreliance deepens inequities and fuels resentment.—
Joe Ferguson,
Chicago Tribune,
11 Feb. 2026
-
Proper aging concentrates glutamic acid, boosts umami and deepens flavor.—
Shindy Chen
February 10,
Charlotte Observer,
10 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
Maia and her boyfriend Dylan (Josh Hustcherson) are on the outs after Maia completely embarrasses herself at Dylan’s game night with his co-workers.—
Katie Campione,
Deadline,
21 Dec. 2025
-
There, the father of the bride gets too drunk and embarrasses himself.—
Randall Colburn,
Entertainment Weekly,
1 Dec. 2025
Verb
-
In the extreme off-chance that Darnold doesn’t play or aggravates the injury, the Seahawks would call upon Drew Lock, who has just three regular season passing attempts on the year.—
Chris Biderman,
Sacbee.com,
16 Jan. 2026
-
Nathan tells him to get in the water in order to fix the hooks and ropes, but Max stands on the Jet Ski instead, which aggravates the bosun.—
Rafaela Bassili,
Vulture,
6 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
But the unknown in that equation is what perplexes the Mavericks and has the team stuck for now.—
Tim Cowlishaw,
Dallas Morning News,
1 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
The energy to make and ship the artificial snow also exacerbates the carbon footprint of the competitions that require snow, the climate experts said.—
Julia Jacobo,
ABC News,
4 Feb. 2026
-
But climate change is also becoming an unignorable concern in garment-producing regions as extreme weather exacerbates heat stress in factories and fuels humanitarian crises such as flooding and drought.—
Jasmin Malik Chua,
Sourcing Journal,
2 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
No one confuses kilowatt-hours with productivity, yet no serious economy flies blind without tracking them.—
Noosheen Hashemi,
Time,
26 Jan. 2026
-
Where the Roma obscured the line between a classic grand tourer and a sports car with supercar tendencies, the Amalfi confuses things further.—
Jonny Lieberman,
Robb Report,
17 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
Doctors monitor progression and severity of the disease by measuring the size of the left ventricle, the heart’s muscle that pumps blood to the body, which shrinks as the condition worsens.—
Helen Carefoot,
Flow Space,
5 Feb. 2026
-
Software stock slide worsens on AI fears US software stocks sank further Tuesday on swelling investor fears that new AI tools will eat their lunch.—
Alexander Onukwue,
semafor.com,
4 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Complicates.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/complicates. Accessed 15 Feb. 2026.
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