Synonyms of complicate

complicate 1 of 2

verb

ˈkäm-plə-ˌkāt 

1

as in to complex

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

• complex
• intensify
• embarrass
• perplex
• complexify
• confuse
• entangle
• expand
• elaborate
• sophisticate
• develop
• muddle
• confound
• magnify
• mix (up)
• snarl
• tangle
• mess (up)

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• simplify
• streamline
• shorten
• facilitate
• cut
• ease
• unravel
• straighten (out)
• abbreviate
• disentangle
• untangle
• oversimplify

2

as in to deepen

to make more severe

asthma that has recently been complicated by a bout of bronchitis

Synonyms & Similar Words

• deepen
• worsen
• aggravate
• intensify
• exacerbate
• amplify
• magnify

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• help
• alleviate
• mitigate
• relieve
• ease
• improve
• better
• allay
• assuage
• ameliorate

complicate

2 of 2

adjective

ˈkäm-pli-kət 

as in complicated

having many parts or aspects that are usually interrelated

the kind of complicate machinery that is used in the field of robotics

Synonyms & Similar Words

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

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of complicate

Verb

And because towing a trailer apparently wasn't complicated enough already, Super Cruise with trailering capability is available as well. — New Atlas, 25 Sep. 2026

The album was actually a couple of years in the making and originally planned to be released during the spring, but Ball’s health matters complicated those plans. — Gary Graff, Billboard, 25 Sep. 2026

Adjective

Fires in salt cedar can create spotting conditions and complicate suppression efforts, especially on windy days, when embers are carried ahead of containment lines, according to the department. — Joan Meiners, AZCentral.com, 4 May 2026

Trump’s announcement, suggesting the US would police ships that have paid Iran a toll to transit the waterway, threatens to escalate naval activity and further complicate countries’ efforts to get energy from the region. — J.d. Capelouto, semafor.com, 12 Apr. 2026