Synonyms of complicated

complicated 1 of 2

adjective

ˈkäm-plə-ˌkā-təd 

1

as in complicate

having many parts or aspects that are usually interrelated

a complicated apparatus

Synonyms & Similar Words

• complicate
• intricate
• complex
• sophisticated
• convoluted
• tangled
• elaborate
• involved
• difficult
• labyrinthine
• byzantine
• knotty
• varied
• baroque
• labyrinthian
• involute
• multifaceted
• mixed
• challenging
• daedal
• heterogeneous
• multifarious
• overcomplicated
• tough
• composite
• overcomplex
• compound
• incomprehensible
• inexplicable
• unintelligible
• unfathomable
• multipart
• multibranched
• impenetrable
• Kafkaesque

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• simple
• uncomplicated
• plain
• simplistic
• simplified
• noncomplex
• noncomplicated
• homogeneous
• uniform
• oversimplified
• unvaried

2

as in detailed

made or done with great care or with much detail

complicated plans for redeveloping the riverfront that involve both the private and public sectors

Synonyms & Similar Words

• detailed
• intricate
• complex
• elaborate
• elegant
• involved
• sophisticated
• fancy
• exquisite
• magnificent
• ornate
• extravagant
• convoluted
• splendid
• Byzantine
• showy
• exuberant
• overwrought
• grandiose
• flamboyant
• frilly
• grand
• labyrinthine
• ostentatious
• fancified
• involuted
• labyrinthian
• souped-up
• gimmicked (up)
• involute
• chichi

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• simple
• unsophisticated
• uncomplicated
• plain
• modest
• no-frills
• unfancy
• naked
• unadorned
• bare
• bald
• plain-vanilla
• undecorated
• unvarnished
• plain-Jane

complicated

2 of 2

verb

past tense of complicate

1

as in sophisticated

to make complex or difficult

the need to go to both a PTA conference and condo board meeting really complicates tonight's schedule

Synonyms & Similar Words

• sophisticated
• complexed
• perplexed
• intensified
• embarrassed
• confused
• entangled
• complexified
• elaborated
• expanded
• muddled
• developed
• tangled
• snarled
• confounded
• mixed (up)
• magnified
• messed (up)

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• simplified
• streamlined
• shortened
• cut
• abbreviated
• facilitated
• eased
• straightened (out)
• oversimplified
• unraveled
• disentangled
• untangled

2

as in aggravated

to make more severe

asthma that has recently been complicated by a bout of bronchitis

Synonyms & Similar Words

• aggravated
• deepened
• intensified
• exacerbated
• worsened
• amplified
• magnified

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• helped
• relieved
• mitigated
• alleviated
• improved
• eased
• allayed
• assuaged
• ameliorated
• bettered

Synonym Chooser

How does the adjective complicated differ from other similar words?

Some common synonyms of complicated are complex, intricate, involved, and knotty. While all these words mean "having confusingly interrelated parts," complicated applies to what offers great difficulty in understanding, solving, or explaining.

complicated legal procedures

When might complex be a better fit than complicated?

The words complex and complicated can be used in similar contexts, but complex suggests the unavoidable result of a necessary combining and does not imply a fault or failure.

a complex recipe

When would intricate be a good substitute for complicated?

The synonyms intricate and complicated are sometimes interchangeable, but intricate suggests such interlacing of parts as to make it nearly impossible to follow or grasp them separately.

an intricate web of deceit

When is it sensible to use involved instead of complicated?

The words involved and complicated are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, involved implies extreme complication and often disorder.

a rambling, involved explanation

When is knotty a more appropriate choice than complicated?

Although the words knotty and complicated have much in common, knotty suggests complication and entanglement that make solution or understanding improbable.

knotty ethical questions

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of complicated

Adjective

How to Apply Retinoids for Hair Growth The scalp is not as forgiving as the skin on your face, and hair makes retinoid application a bit more complicated. —Justin Fenner, Robb Report, 22 May 2026

However, a new Gartner study suggests the story may be more complicated. —Kurt Knutsson, FOXNews.com, 22 May 2026

Verb

That Carleen and the other schools implicated in Operation Nightingale once awarded legitimate credentials has complicated Florida’s response to the scandal. —Annie Martin, The Orlando Sentinel, 22 May 2026

The process was complicated by a need to retain a running track in order to stage athletics events each summer. —Philip Buckingham, New York Times, 21 May 2026