complete 1 of 2

1
2
as in to complement
to serve as a completing element to the bird's beautiful song simply completes its appeal for pet owners

Synonyms & Similar Words

3
as in to end
to bring (an event) to a natural or appropriate stopping point the well-attended concert completed a great weekend of arts and entertainment events

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

4

complete

2 of 2

adjective

1
2
3
4
5
6

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complete information
detailed information
true information
correct information
comprehensive information
full information
complete understanding
perfect understanding
full understanding
absolute understanding
sufficient understanding
total understanding
complete coverage
total coverage
full coverage
enough coverage
excellent coverage
over-all coverage
a complete list
a detailed list
an extensive list
an exhaustive list
a definitive list
a conclusive list
complete lack
total lack

Synonym Chooser

How does the verb complete differ from other similar words?

Some common synonyms of complete are close, conclude, end, finish, and terminate. While all these words mean "to bring or come to a stopping point or limit," complete implies the removal of all deficiencies or a successful finishing of what has been undertaken.

the resolving of this last issue completes the agreement

Where would close be a reasonable alternative to complete?

The meanings of close and complete largely overlap; however, close usually implies that something has been in some way open as well as unfinished.

close a debate

In what contexts can conclude take the place of complete?

While the synonyms conclude and complete are close in meaning, conclude may imply a formal closing (as of a meeting).

the service concluded with a blessing

When could end be used to replace complete?

Although the words end and complete have much in common, end conveys a strong sense of finality.

ended his life

When might finish be a better fit than complete?

The words finish and complete can be used in similar contexts, but finish may stress completion of a final step in a process.

after it is painted, the house will be finished

When would terminate be a good substitute for complete?

In some situations, the words terminate and complete are roughly equivalent. However, terminate implies the setting of a limit in time or space.

your employment terminates after three months

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 complete
Verb
In 11-on-11, Dart then completed his first throw for a touchdown to Jalin Hyatt with corner Tre Hawkins in coverage. Pat Leonard, New York Daily News, 24 July 2025 Hydro completed the construction of its third aluminum recycling plant in November 2023 at Cassopolis, Michigan, taking its total production capacity to more than 300,000 tonnes annually. Ganesh Rao, CNBC, 24 July 2025
Adjective
Still, Snyder successfully argued that the start of his sentence should be postponed until his bid to have the Supreme Court hear his case was complete. Post-Tribune, Chicago Tribune, 3 Aug. 2025 Pitt’s is open for dinner only, so this is, by necessity, more of an evening pancake; pair it with the restaurant’s take on an espresso Martini, punched up with notes of coconut and blood orange, for a complete brunch-after-dark moment. Helen Rosner, New Yorker, 3 Aug. 2025 See All Example Sentences for complete
Recent Examples of Synonyms for complete
Verb
  • Like Hardwick, Joss finished work on multiple episodes before his death, although Huss took over voicing Dale for four of the 10 episodes.
    Joe Otterson, Variety, 4 Aug. 2025
  • No other player has finished second more times without winning a major title.
    Julio Cesar Valdera Morales, MSNBC Newsweek, 4 Aug. 2025
Verb
  • Palm Tree Crew brings a unique lifestyle perspective that perfectly complements our performance DNA.
    Jean E. Palmieri, Footwear News, 24 July 2025
  • But the pointer is softer and more playful in a way that complements iPadOS.
    ArsTechnica, ArsTechnica, 24 July 2025
Verb
  • Originally, the it was supposed to end 24 hours ago, when northerly winds were predicted to move the smoke back up north.
    Jack Albright, jsonline.com, 2 Aug. 2025
  • Peter Nelson – 7:54 AM | 36 After just five years, Microsoft will end support for low-cost Windows 11 SE Windows 11 SE was made for school laptop fleets where ChromeOS has made inroads.
    Stephen Clark, ArsTechnica, 2 Aug. 2025
Verb
  • Rather than making customers break down needs into searchable keywords, the AI will understand high-level goals and orchestrate the necessary actions to fulfill them.
    Kiri Masters, Forbes.com, 24 July 2025
  • With Starliner delays, SpaceX has now landed 14 operational mission contracts and about to fly its 11th, while Boeing has yet to fulfill its first.
    Richard Tribou, The Orlando Sentinel, 23 July 2025
Adjective
  • See the entire database of restaurant inspections here.
    Gege Reed, The Courier-Journal, 30 July 2025
  • Advertisement The National Tsunami Warning Center also issued tsunami advisories for parts of Alaska and the entire West Coast, including California, Oregon, Washington, as well as Canada’s British Columbia.
    Miranda Jeyaretnam, Time, 30 July 2025
Adjective
  • The Princess of Wales was first diagnosed with cancer in April 2024 and finished chemotherapy in September of that year.
    Lizzie Lanuza, StyleCaster, 25 July 2025
  • After the restrictions were in place, however, China’s criminal networks switched to shipping out precursors—the chemicals needed to make the opioid—instead of finished fentanyl.
    Michael Schuman, The Atlantic, 24 July 2025
Adjective
  • According to a comprehensive account by David Makovsky in The New Yorker, the agents extracted conclusive evidence from Othman’s computer: Syria was secretly building a plutonium reactor, Al Kibar, with help from North Korea.
    David Remnick, New Yorker, 28 July 2025
  • Our conclusion is based on a comprehensive analysis comparing CNC's current valuation with its operational performance in recent years and its historical and current financial health.
    Trefis Team, Forbes.com, 28 July 2025
Adjective
  • After the huge success of the single-player Hogwarts Legacy and the utter disaster that was the live-service Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League, the demand from David Zaslav at the top was…more live-service games.
    Paul Tassi, Forbes.com, 29 July 2025
  • Maybe this season’s utter collapse will be a wakeup call.
    The Athletic MLB Staff, New York Times, 25 July 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Complete.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/complete. Accessed 7 Aug. 2025.

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