as in to complicate
to make complex or difficult
my proposal would simplify the process, whereas yours would needlessly complexify it
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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 complexify
Ju-yeong’s villainous backstory and present Like most of the characters in Good Boy, villain Ju-yeong doesn’t get a backstory that complexifies his actions.
—
Kayti Burt, Time, 21 July 2025
Blakely’s performance is indicative of The Private Life’s problems — the attempt to pastiche and complexify the popular understanding of this literary relationship ends up re-creating its most irritating qualities.
—Rory Doherty, Vulture, 24 Jan. 2025
But like Nichole says, there have been new complexifying factors in the meantime.
—Kathleen Newman-Bremang, refinery29.com, 31 July 2023
Rather than expand our singular viewpoint, calcified by confirmation and desirability biases, to a dualistic battle royale that may only further harden our stance, Grant suggests the solution is to explore other angles and viewpoints beyond our purview—to complexify.
—Tim Maurer, Forbes, 13 June 2021
In between the set pieces and special effects, those shows forgot about enriching and complexifying their themes.
—Wired Staff, Wired, 20 Dec. 2019
What’s the point of complexifying a straightforward election?
—Adam Rogers, WIRED, 6 June 2018
Kayti Burt, Time, 21 July 2025
Blakely’s performance is indicative of The Private Life’s problems — the attempt to pastiche and complexify the popular understanding of this literary relationship ends up re-creating its most irritating qualities.
—Rory Doherty, Vulture, 24 Jan. 2025
But like Nichole says, there have been new complexifying factors in the meantime.
—Kathleen Newman-Bremang, refinery29.com, 31 July 2023
Rather than expand our singular viewpoint, calcified by confirmation and desirability biases, to a dualistic battle royale that may only further harden our stance, Grant suggests the solution is to explore other angles and viewpoints beyond our purview—to complexify.
—Tim Maurer, Forbes, 13 June 2021
In between the set pieces and special effects, those shows forgot about enriching and complexifying their themes.
—Wired Staff, Wired, 20 Dec. 2019
What’s the point of complexifying a straightforward election?
—Adam Rogers, WIRED, 6 June 2018
Recent Examples of Synonyms for complexify
Verb
-
Even in the free states, attitudes toward slavery were complicated.—
Jelani Cobb,
New Yorker,
30 Jan. 2026
-
Treatment is complicated by difficulty detecting the cancer in early stages, and its resistance to common cancer drugs.—
Jenna Prestininzi,
Freep.com,
30 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
The visits focus on loneliness and emotional distress, issues that many survivors say have intensified amid the war in Ukraine and rising antisemitism in the United States.—
Hannah Kliger,
CBS News,
28 Jan. 2026
-
Once markets started moving lower, thin liquidity intensified such price movements, according to several analysts who provided input for this article.—
Charles Lloyd Bovaird II,
Forbes.com,
27 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Complexify.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/complexify. Accessed 4 Feb. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
