complicate 1 of 2

verb

ˈkäm-plə-ˌkāt How to pronounce complicate (audio)
Definition of complicatenext
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

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in to deepen
to make more severe asthma that has recently been complicated by a bout of bronchitis

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

complicate

2 of 2

adjective

ˈkäm-pli-kət How to pronounce complicate (audio)
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

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 complicate
Verb
The accountability questions surrounding AI further complicate the discussion. — Wayne Lonstein, Forbes.com, 7 Aug. 2026 Contractors will complicate Route 9 traffic for two and a half years to save a rusting swing bridge that’s used solely by freight trains — and only about twice a week, critics said. — Don Stacom, Hartford Courant, 7 Aug. 2026
Adjective
Fires in salt cedar can create spotting conditions and complicate suppression efforts, especially on windy days, when embers are carried ahead of containment lines, according to the department. — Joan Meiners, AZCentral.com, 4 May 2026 Trump’s announcement, suggesting the US would police ships that have paid Iran a toll to transit the waterway, threatens to escalate naval activity and further complicate countries’ efforts to get energy from the region. — J.d. Capelouto, semafor.com, 12 Apr. 2026 See All Example Sentences for complicate
Recent Examples of Synonyms for complicate
  1. intensify
  2. deepen
  3. complicated
  4. embarrass
  5. worsen
  6. intricate
  7. perplex
  8. aggravate
Verb
  • The end of the men’s World Cup and subsequent drama at FIFA (that keeps getting messier) have only intensified that feeling this year.
    — Emily Olsen, New York Times, 11 Aug. 2026
  • The government has intensified firefighting efforts across Sumatra and Borneo islands, deploying more than 35 aircraft including water-bombing helicopters and patrol airplanes.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 11 Aug. 2026
Definition of intensify
Verb
  • At dinnertime, Thune gathered all the Republican senators for a meeting as the standoff deepened at the Capitol.
    — Lisa Mascaro, Fortune, 8 Aug. 2026
  • Those experiences deepen understanding in ways that lectures and memorization alone rarely can.
    — Lisa Schade, Forbes.com, 7 Aug. 2026
Definition of deepen
Adjective
  • Officials said deep peat soil, limited water supplies, difficult access and strong winds have complicated efforts, even with three helicopters conducting aerial firefighting operations.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 10 Aug. 2026
  • When given a complicated test, AI models (the industry term for the systems behind products like ChatGPT and Claude) find a way to maximize the score without doing the task the score was meant to measure.
    — Craig S. Smith, Forbes.com, 9 Aug. 2026
Definition of complicated
Verb
  • Spreading a rumor or creating a fake account to embarrass someone can cause lasting harm.
    — Kurt Knutsson, FOXNews.com, 9 Aug. 2026
  • The operation has brought a fuel crisis that is embarrassing the Kremlin.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 8 Aug. 2026
Definition of embarrass
Verb
  • Haze has worsened in Malaysia’s Sarawak state, which shares a border with Indonesia’s Kalimantan province on Borneo.
    — Trisnadi, Los Angeles Times, 11 Aug. 2026
  • More than 50 hectares (124 acres) of peatland have burned in Jambi province on Sumatra island, causing choking haze in some areas and raising concerns about worsening air quality.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 10 Aug. 2026
Definition of worsen
Adjective
  • The lab's advanced technology, including 64 Vicon cameras, allows for intricate action and dance choreography, even blending with AI for real-time animation, and has attracted international gaming projects.
    — Hannah Abraham, Forbes.com, 8 Aug. 2026
  • Like Dante, Nick Tosches was an undaunted character whose tongue-twisting prose was an iconoclastic mash-up of realism and intricate, erudite lyricism.
    — A.D. Amorosi, SPIN, 6 Aug. 2026
Definition of intricate
Verb
  • Gibson Nash, 21, was charged with first-degree murder after a series of perplexing events eventually led police to his mother’s bloodied body.
    — Natasha Holt, FOXNews.com, 9 Aug. 2026
  • The Brazil midfielder has expressed a desire to join Arsenal, but Newcastle did not want to sell him this summer and have been perplexed by the lack of direct contact from the London club.
    — Chris Weatherspoon, New York Times, 5 Aug. 2026
Definition of perplex
Verb
  • Since then, his game behind the plate has vacillated between good and bad — an inconsistency aggravated by the presence of Luis Torrens (and his defensive excellence) as his backup.
    — Tim Britton, New York Times, 4 Aug. 2026
  • That said, keep in mind that spicy foods can cause side effects or aggravate underlying health conditions, like heartburn, so please seek medical guidance before making any dietary changes.
    — Colleen Doherty, Verywell Health, 3 Aug. 2026
Definition of aggravate

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Cite this Entry

“Complicate.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/complicate. Accessed 14 Aug. 2026.

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Nglish: Translation of complicate for Spanish Speakers

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