complicated 1 of 2

complicated

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verb

past tense of complicate

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

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 complicated
Adjective
To give an idea of the complicated setting: Patrick Baladi plays Andrew, Charlotte’s lawyer husband who is hired as Jess’s defense when she is accused of harming her 10-month-old. Lily Ford, The Hollywood Reporter, 27 Feb. 2025 Hackman played complicated men — many of them not very nice. Neda Ulaby, NPR, 27 Feb. 2025 Refunds are typically smaller at the start of the tax season because low- and middle-income workers with simpler tax returns are often the first to file, while higher-income Americans or people with more complicated taxes tend to wait until closer to the April 15 deadline to file their returns. Aimee Picchi, CBS News, 27 Feb. 2025 Their final conflict goes down on Silver’s yacht in the middle of the open water, as Silver ridicules Kreese for his complicated relationship with Johnny. Nick Caruso, TVLine, 15 Feb. 2025 See All Example Sentences for complicated
Recent Examples of Synonyms for complicated
Adjective
  • What the presence of TSMC does do is complicate an already complex situation.
    Kerry Brown, Newsweek, 22 Jan. 2025
  • That the aircraft impacted the ground so violently will no doubt complicate investigators' work, given the state of the physical evidence, Axios' Fitzpatrick adds.
    Isaac Avilucea, Axios, 2 Feb. 2025
Adjective
  • At the same time, elements of the FSMA that require food manufacturers to keep more detailed records are set to go into effect within a year, and companies will need to comply, Le said.
    Elizabeth Yuko, Health, 1 Mar. 2025
  • See a more detailed comparison of iPhone 16e and iPhone 16 here.
    Greta Cross, USA TODAY, 1 Mar. 2025
Verb
  • However, salt damage incurred in the 1970s due to the installation of a heated concrete slab, which aggravated the salt stored in the 18th and 19th centuries, threatened the church’s structural integrity.
    Maria Mocerino, Interesting Engineering, 5 Jan. 2025
  • Prior to the game, Mosley said Gary Harris, who missed Friday’s game, re-aggravated his left hamstring strain against the Pistons.
    Jason Beede, Orlando Sentinel, 4 Jan. 2025
Adjective
  • The design, which took more than 300 hours to make, included a corset bodice with intricate sparkling details that dripped down to the rest of the silk skirt.
    Rachel Flynn, People.com, 3 Mar. 2025
  • His intricate, mesmerizing, metal, light, and shadow sculptures in MICAS’ barrel vaults prove particularly sublime.
    Chadd Scott, Forbes, 3 Mar. 2025
Adjective
  • The study, published in the medical journal JAMA by the Benioff Homeless and Housing Initiative at UC San Francisco, gives a complex statistical picture of a topic that has been fraught by conflicting narratives.
    Doug Smith, Los Angeles Times, 27 Feb. 2025
  • Trump administration to acknowledge only a person’s gender assigned at birth, officials say Human biology is complex, and not all individuals fit neatly into binary categories, Evans told ABC News.
    Dr. Allia Vaez, ABC News, 27 Feb. 2025
Verb
  • This delivered incredible accessibility, flexibility and efficiency, but also deepened the digital divide for those without technology access, blurred work-life boundaries and fueled loneliness.
    Ann Kowal Smith, Forbes, 20 Dec. 2024
  • Although Moscow has supplied Beijing with arms for years—including advanced fighter aircraft, air defense systems, and antiship missiles—their defense ties have deepened at an alarming rate.
    Andrea Kendall-Taylor, Foreign Affairs, 18 Dec. 2024
Adjective
  • The Swiss skincare import creates sophisticated formulations featuring pure alpine ingredients from high altitude plants and Triple DNA, a patented marine DNA extract that deeply hydrates and boosts cell renewal.
    Bea McMonagle, Forbes, 28 Feb. 2025
  • These symbols are part of an entirely undeciphered script from a sophisticated ancient civilization thousands of years old.
    Jessie Yeung, CNN, 28 Feb. 2025
Adjective
  • The actress wore a futuristic, shiny, navy blue gown with an elaborate boxy neck and accentuated the look with silver jewelry.
    Dan Perry, Newsweek, 3 Mar. 2025
  • Of course, there were plenty of elaborate brooches, extending last year’s men’s lapel pin trend in new, creative ways.
    Shannon Adducci, Robb Report, 3 Mar. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Complicated.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/complicated. Accessed 6 Mar. 2025.

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