INVOLVED Synonyms: 215 Similar and Opposite Words

Q: How does the adjective 'involved' differ from other similar words?

Some common synonyms of involved are complex , complicated , intricate , and knotty . While all these words mean "having confusingly interrelated parts," involved implies extreme complication and often disorder. // a rambling, involved explanation

Q: When is it sensible to use 'complex' instead of 'involved'?

In some situations, the words complex and involved are roughly equivalent. However, complex suggests the unavoidable result of a necessary combining and does not imply a fault or failure. // a complex recipe

Q: When is 'complicated' a more appropriate choice than 'involved'?

The synonyms complicated and involved are sometimes interchangeable, but complicated applies to what offers great difficulty in understanding, solving, or explaining. // complicated legal procedures

Q: Where would 'intricate' be a reasonable alternative to 'involved'?

While in some cases nearly identical to involved , intricate suggests such interlacing of parts as to make it nearly impossible to follow or grasp them separately. // an intricate web of deceit

Q: In what contexts can 'knotty' take the place of 'involved'?

The meanings of knotty and involved largely overlap; however, knotty suggests complication and entanglement that make solution or understanding improbable. // knotty ethical questions

involved 1 of 2

adjective

in-ˈvälvd

Definition of involved next

as in complicated

having many parts or aspects that are usually interrelated a remarkably involved story for a writer so young

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in detailed

made or done with great care or with much detail very involved descriptions of every last detail of the lavish wedding

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involved

2 of 2

verb

past tense of involve

as in affected

to be the business or affair of this isn't something that involves you, so don't worry about it

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as in included

to have as part of a whole a tragic play usually involves a number of plot devices, including the hero's fatal flaw

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in interested

to hold the attention of her blissful daydream so completely involved her that she never heard the knock on the door

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as in wrapped

to surround or cover closely a mind that was deeply involved in doubt about his wife's fidelity

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Synonym Chooser

How does the adjective involved differ from other similar words?

Some common synonyms of involved are complex, complicated, intricate, and knotty. While all these words mean "having confusingly interrelated parts," involved implies extreme complication and often disorder.

a rambling, involved explanation

When is it sensible to use complex instead of involved?

In some situations, the words complex and involved are roughly equivalent. However, complex suggests the unavoidable result of a necessary combining and does not imply a fault or failure.

a complex recipe

When is complicated a more appropriate choice than involved?

The synonyms complicated and involved are sometimes interchangeable, but complicated applies to what offers great difficulty in understanding, solving, or explaining.

complicated legal procedures

Where would intricate be a reasonable alternative to involved?

While in some cases nearly identical to involved, intricate suggests such interlacing of parts as to make it nearly impossible to follow or grasp them separately.

an intricate web of deceit

In what contexts can knotty take the place of involved?

The meanings of knotty and involved largely overlap; however, knotty suggests complication and entanglement that make solution or understanding improbable.

knotty ethical questions

Examples 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 involved

Adjective

Watches have had Garmin’s Breathwork activity for years, but this new mode is more involved. —

Andrew Williams, Forbes, 3 Dec. 2024 In encouraging people to get active and involved, Giving Tuesday has led to a surge in support for nonprofits, leaders say. —

Saleen Martin, The Courier-Journal, 3 Dec. 2024

Verb

Many of the early engineers involved in the DARPA challenges would go on to work for Google’s self driving car project starting in 2009. —

Gustavo Castillo, Forbes, 11 Dec. 2024 For example, as crash speed increases from 15 mph to 35 mph, the risk of a serious injury goes from 9% to 52% when a median-height car is involved. —

Tanya Mohn, Forbes, 11 Dec. 2024 See all Example Sentences for involved

Recent Examples of Synonyms for involved

Adjective

Some, like comedy kingpin Chuck Lorre, have more complicated deals that may eclipse those of the mega-earners due to back-end compensation terms for shows that perform well.

Tatiana Siegel, Variety, 11 Dec. 2024
But things get complicated when York and the spirit haunting her — known as Nolan Callahan in his days among the living — begin to feel a spark of romance between them.

Charlotte Phillipp, People.com, 10 Dec. 2024