complicate matters
idiom
: to make a situation more complicated
To (further) complicate matters, they both have the same name.
Examples of complicate matters in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Strasser and Jung each said that previous injuries or existing hardware can complicate matters in some instances and be of no consequence in others.
—
Parker Gabriel, Denver Post, 19 Jan. 2026
Roster inflexibility could further complicate matters.
—Chandler Rome, New York Times, 13 Jan. 2026
Old conversations resurface, not to complicate matters, but to bring closure or understanding.
—Valerie Mesa, PEOPLE, 7 Jan. 2026
To complicate matters, my daughter, who had declined the original trip, suddenly wanted in.
—Tom Vanderbilt, Travel + Leisure, 31 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for complicate matters
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Parker Gabriel, Denver Post, 19 Jan. 2026
Roster inflexibility could further complicate matters.
—Chandler Rome, New York Times, 13 Jan. 2026
Old conversations resurface, not to complicate matters, but to bring closure or understanding.
—Valerie Mesa, PEOPLE, 7 Jan. 2026
To complicate matters, my daughter, who had declined the original trip, suddenly wanted in.
—Tom Vanderbilt, Travel + Leisure, 31 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for complicate matters
Cite this Entry
“Complicate matters.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/complicate%20matters. Accessed 26 Jan. 2026.
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