complicated

1 of 3

adjective

com·​pli·​cat·​ed ˈkäm-plə-ˌkā-təd 

1

: consisting of parts intricately combined

a complicated recipe

complicated machinery

2

: difficult to analyze, understand, or explain

a complicated issue

his absurdly complicated life

complicatedly adverb

complicatedness noun

complicated

2 of 3

past tense and past participle of complicate entry 1

complicatedness

3 of 3

noun

com·​pli·​cat·​ed·​ness

ˈkäm-plə-ˌkā-təd-nəs

plural -es

: complicacy

Synonyms of complicated

Adjective

• complicate
• intricate
• complex
• sophisticated

Choose the Right Synonym for complicated

complex, complicated, intricate, involved, knotty mean having confusingly interrelated parts.

complex suggests the unavoidable result of a necessary combining and does not imply a fault or failure.

a complex recipe

complicated applies to what offers great difficulty in understanding, solving, or explaining.

complicated legal procedures

intricate suggests such interlacing of parts as to make it nearly impossible to follow or grasp them separately.

an intricate web of deceit

involved implies extreme complication and often disorder.

a rambling, involved explanation

knotty suggests complication and entanglement that make solution or understanding improbable.

knotty ethical questions

Examples of complicated in a Sentence

Adjective

The game's rules are too complicated.

The machine has a complicated design.

Recent Examples on the Web

Adjective

Groups that are pushing for data center expansion and industry-friendly laws have plenty of money and resources, plus their own complicated financial ties to the AI and tech companies themselves. — Ashley Gold, semafor.com, 2 Oct. 2026

The report also found that the LAFD leaders who initially oversaw the Palisades fire response lacked experience with large, complicated fires, causing other agencies to operate independently of the department instead of joining forces. — Terry Castleman, Los Angeles Times, 2 Oct. 2026

The Firebrand and the First Lady demonstrates that the early civil rights movement was built on a foundation of deep, complicated, long-term relationships which traversed the boundaries of both race and class. — Literary Hub, 2 Oct. 2026

What unfolded in that rental home in July lifted the veil on a complicated plot involving human trafficking, abuse, drugs and prostitution, according to arrest reports. — Milena Malaver, Miami Herald, 2 Oct. 2026

Word History

Etymology

Adjective

from past participle of complicate entry 1

First Known Use

Adjective

1656, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for complicated

• abdicated
• abrogated
• acclimated
• activated
• actuated
• adumbrated
• advocated
• aggravated
• aggregated
• agitated
• allocated
• alternated

Kids Definition

complicated

adjective

com·​pli·​cat·​ed ˈkäm-plə-ˌkāt-əd 

1

: consisting of many combined parts

complicated machinery

2

: difficult to analyze, understand, or explain : complex

complicatedly adverb

complicatedness noun

Medical Definition

complicated

adjective

com·​pli·​cat·​ed

of a bone fracture

: characterized by injury to nearby parts