complicate matters

phrase

: to make a situation more complicated
To (further) complicate matters, they both have the same name.

Examples of complicate matters in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
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.
To further complicate matters, Karnak introduces another crash victim contestant, one whose remains were never claimed. David John Chávez, Mercury News, 28 July 2026 To further complicate matters, an increasing share of production code may never have been explicitly selected by a developer. Abby Kearns, Forbes.com, 28 July 2026 Obviously, Morton’s possible return could complicate matters further. Clayton Davis, Variety, 24 July 2026 To further complicate matters, a High Court ruling on Harry’s privacy claim against the publisher of The Daily Mail is expected to be handed down on July 7. Rachel Burchfield, InStyle, 6 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for complicate matters

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Complicate matters.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/complicate%20matters. Accessed 5 Aug. 2026.

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!