complicate 1 of 2

1
2
as in to deepen
to make more severe asthma that has recently been complicated by a bout of bronchitis

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

complicate

2 of 2

adjective

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
Gandy’s situation is complicated by the fact that he was hired as a pro football player in California when the Rams signed him in 1994. Michael McCann, Sportico.com, 13 Oct. 2025 But the novel goes on to complicate such an interpretation. Maggie Doherty, New Yorker, 13 Oct. 2025
Adjective
Families today are more anchored: two-income households complicate moves, aging demographics keep older homeowners in place, and many are locked into mortgage rates under 4%, unwilling to trade up into costlier loans. Brian Delp, Forbes.com, 9 Sep. 2025 The shift would send states scrambling and complicate parents’ efforts to get young children vaccinated ahead of the coming respiratory virus season. Alexis Simendinger, The Hill, 14 Aug. 2025 See All Example Sentences for complicate
Recent Examples of Synonyms for complicate
Verb
  • The following year, several lawmakers were accused of failing to report income or disclose kickbacks, deepening public frustration.
    Hanako Montgomery, CNN Money, 11 Oct. 2025
  • The board’s challenge lies in deepening their expertise while being intentional about protecting their bandwidth given the sheer volume of information and pace of change.
    Lara Abrash, Fortune, 11 Oct. 2025
Adjective
  • Moreover, parlay bets are getting more complicated as time goes on, decreasing the chances of winning.
    Sasha Rogelberg, Fortune, 11 Oct. 2025
  • Peter Hedges’s drama about a young recovering addict (Lucas Hedges) coming back unannounced to his family starts off promisingly, with Roberts’s supportive but wary character trying to manage her complicated feelings about her son’s return.
    Bilge Ebiri, Vulture, 10 Oct. 2025
Verb
  • Padrino also accused Washington of sharply intensifying aerial surveillance of Venezuela, citing a surge in spy flights last month.
    Jacqueline Charles, Miami Herald, 9 Oct. 2025
  • And, as the first phase of his Gaza peace plan makes headway, the focus on the prospect of him winning is intensifying.
    Kate Bartlett, NPR, 9 Oct. 2025
Verb
  • Laing also cautioned that sardines contain purines, which may cause a buildup of uric acid and worsen symptoms like joint pain and swelling for people with gout.
    Stephanie Brown, Verywell Health, 10 Oct. 2025
  • Pain may worsen at night or in the morning, not improve with rest, and differ from common muscle or digestive issues.
    Lindsay Curtis, Health, 10 Oct. 2025
Adjective
  • Defensive struggles are all connected, because football is beautifully intricate like that, but the secondary is a problem.
    Steven Louis Goldstein, New York Times, 12 Oct. 2025
  • Shortly after its dawn, dresses produced by Paris’ leading fashion houses, such as Poiret, Chanel and Lanvin, were envisaged with the same geometric, linear designs and intricate decorations that were characteristic of the revolutionary movement.
    Sofia Celeste, Footwear News, 11 Oct. 2025
Verb
  • The games themselves are embarrassing enough to watch.
    Stewart Mandel, New York Times, 8 Oct. 2025
  • One agent was disciplined for insubordination after refusing to go along with the plan to embarrass Comey in this way.
    The Conversation, The Conversation, 8 Oct. 2025
Verb
  • The 26-year-old, who scored the game’s opening goal, re-aggravated a prior injury in the latter stages of the game at the Parc des Princes.
    Nnamdi Onyeagwara, New York Times, 11 Oct. 2025
  • France is struggling with mounting economic challenges and ballooning debt, and the political crisis is aggravating its troubles and raising alarm across the European Union.
    NPR, NPR, 10 Oct. 2025
Adjective
  • With natural, biodegradable, and inexpensive components, such batteries could one day provide an eco-friendly alternative for powering homes or small devices without relying on toxic metals or complex supply chains.
    Aamir Khollam, Interesting Engineering, 16 Oct. 2025
  • The full and final details of what would be a very complex operation for tax and legal reasons are still being worked out, sources said.
    Dermot Corrigan, New York Times, 16 Oct. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Complicate.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/complicate. Accessed 16 Oct. 2025.

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