com·pli·cate
ˈkäm-plə-ˌkāt 
complicated; complicating
com·pli·cate
ˈkäm-pli-kət
2
Synonyms
Examples of complicate in a Sentence
Verb
Changing jobs now would complicate her life.
a disease complicated by infection
Adjective
the kind of complicate machinery that is used in the field of robotics
Recent Examples on the Web
Anna Miller, Sacramento Bee, 26 Apr. 2024
Debates about the investments of college endowments are complicated, Baum said, because some university stakeholders argue the money needs to produce the biggest return on investment possible to fund teaching and programming and services.
—Kelly Meyerhofer, Journal Sentinel, 26 Apr. 2024
Two of the four charges against Mr. Trump are based on the obstruction law, and the court’s decision may complicate Mr. Smith’s efforts to pursue those charges.
—Adam Liptak, New York Times, 25 Apr. 2024
Debates about the investments of college endowments are complicated, Baum said, because some university stakeholders argue the money needs to produce the biggest return on investment possible to fund teaching and necessary programming and services.
—Claire Thornton, USA TODAY, 24 Apr. 2024
Meanwhile, climate change complicates efforts to clean up the air, says Anenberg.
—Alejandra Borunda, NPR, 24 Apr. 2024
Some tasks are complicated, but take them one step at a time.
—Sara Rathner Of Nerdwallet, Quartz, 16 Apr. 2024
The history of the region is complicated, and territorial claims in the ancient city are no less so.
—Samantha Murphy Kelly, CNN, 12 Apr. 2024
Efficient and perfunctory, like art handlers, only the bodies were living: bound
at the wrists, iron complicating
their necks.
—Tracy K. Smith, The New Yorker, 15 Apr. 2024
Tia Goldenberg, arkansasonline.com, 11 Apr. 2024
Those groups say logistical issues and the precarious security situation – underscored by the WCK strike – complicate aid deliveries.
—Tia Goldenberg and Wafaa Shurafa, The Christian Science Monitor, 10 Apr. 2024
Feelings of dread or apprehension complicate personal relationships as the moon and Neptune clash.
—USA TODAY, 13 Apr. 2024
The world’s biggest economy is importing more from its southern neighbor than China for the first time in decades, as tensions with Beijing complicate things.
—Susan Howson, Quartz, 11 Feb. 2024
California ‘Conflicting statements’ complicate investigation into Jewish man’s death at protest
Nov. 7, 2023
Advertisement
The Ventura County Sheriff’s Office said the incident was reported just after 3:20 p.m. Sunday.
—Grace Toohey, Los Angeles Times, 8 Nov. 2023
Secret audio, a star witness, and 'Thai prostitutes' complicate Sam Bankman-Fried's defense
Gemini’s owners, the Winklevoss twins, have said Genesis owed more than $900 million to some 340,000 customers using the Earn program.
—Allison Morrow, CNN, 19 Oct. 2023
Bananas have high sugar which can lead to or further complicate diabetes in your cat.
—Olivia Munson, USA TODAY, 3 Aug. 2023
For winemakers, 2020 was the year that ‘dropped us to our knees’
Second, spring frosts complicate planning for the autumn’s harvest, especially when damage is scattered throughout a vineyard rather than uniform.
—Dave McIntyre, Washington Post, 6 July 2023
Verb
Examples of soilless mediums include coco coir, vermiculite, perlite, etc.
Hydroponic Grows
No, hydroponic growing isn’t complicated.
—Anna Miller, Sacramento Bee, 26 Apr. 2024
Debates about the investments of college endowments are complicated, Baum said, because some university stakeholders argue the money needs to produce the biggest return on investment possible to fund teaching and programming and services.
—Kelly Meyerhofer, Journal Sentinel, 26 Apr. 2024
Two of the four charges against Mr. Trump are based on the obstruction law, and the court’s decision may complicate Mr. Smith’s efforts to pursue those charges.
—Adam Liptak, New York Times, 25 Apr. 2024
Debates about the investments of college endowments are complicated, Baum said, because some university stakeholders argue the money needs to produce the biggest return on investment possible to fund teaching and necessary programming and services.
—Claire Thornton, USA TODAY, 24 Apr. 2024
Meanwhile, climate change complicates efforts to clean up the air, says Anenberg.
—Alejandra Borunda, NPR, 24 Apr. 2024
Some tasks are complicated, but take them one step at a time.
—Sara Rathner Of Nerdwallet, Quartz, 16 Apr. 2024
The history of the region is complicated, and territorial claims in the ancient city are no less so.
—Samantha Murphy Kelly, CNN, 12 Apr. 2024
Efficient and perfunctory, like art handlers, only the bodies were living: bound
at the wrists, iron complicating
their necks.
—Tracy K. Smith, The New Yorker, 15 Apr. 2024
Adjective
Aid groups say logistical issues and the precarious security situation -- underscored by the strike on the aid workers -- complicate deliveries.
—Tia Goldenberg, arkansasonline.com, 11 Apr. 2024
Those groups say logistical issues and the precarious security situation – underscored by the WCK strike – complicate aid deliveries.
—Tia Goldenberg and Wafaa Shurafa, The Christian Science Monitor, 10 Apr. 2024
Feelings of dread or apprehension complicate personal relationships as the moon and Neptune clash.
—USA TODAY, 13 Apr. 2024
The world’s biggest economy is importing more from its southern neighbor than China for the first time in decades, as tensions with Beijing complicate things.
—Susan Howson, Quartz, 11 Feb. 2024
California ‘Conflicting statements’ complicate investigation into Jewish man’s death at protest
Nov. 7, 2023
Advertisement
The Ventura County Sheriff’s Office said the incident was reported just after 3:20 p.m. Sunday.
—Grace Toohey, Los Angeles Times, 8 Nov. 2023
Secret audio, a star witness, and 'Thai prostitutes' complicate Sam Bankman-Fried's defense
Gemini’s owners, the Winklevoss twins, have said Genesis owed more than $900 million to some 340,000 customers using the Earn program.
—Allison Morrow, CNN, 19 Oct. 2023
Bananas have high sugar which can lead to or further complicate diabetes in your cat.
—Olivia Munson, USA TODAY, 3 Aug. 2023
For winemakers, 2020 was the year that ‘dropped us to our knees’
Second, spring frosts complicate planning for the autumn’s harvest, especially when damage is scattered throughout a vineyard rather than uniform.
—Dave McIntyre, Washington Post, 6 July 2023
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'complicate.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Articles Related to complicate
Dictionary Entries Near complicate
Cite this Entry
“Complicate.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/complicate. Accessed 2 May. 2024.
Copy CitationMedical Definition
complicate
transitive verb
com·pli·cate
ˈkäm-plə-ˌkāt
complicated; complicating
: to cause to be more complex or severe
a virus disease complicated by bacterial infection
Love words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share