complicated

adjective

com·​pli·​cat·​ed ˈkäm-plə-ˌkā-təd How to pronounce complicated (audio)
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
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

The game's rules are too complicated. The machine has a complicated design.
Recent Examples on the Web The science behind this unfortunate transformation is a complicated chemical reaction called oxidation. Ali Francis, Bon Appétit, 12 Mar. 2024 First California and then the federal government passed laws protecting murals and muralists, with complicated exceptions and requirements. Patt Morrison, Los Angeles Times, 12 Mar. 2024 Though Bernstein held a prolific career in music, Maestro largely focuses on the evolution of his complicated relationship with Montealegre over decades. Brendan Le, Peoplemag, 11 Mar. 2024 Daylight saving time is meant to provide extra sunlight during the spring, summer and fall seasons, but in Indiana, there's a very complicated past with DST. Chris Sims, The Indianapolis Star, 9 Mar. 2024 Gyllenhaal’s performance starts in the shadow of Swayze’s — Dalton’s signature smirk and laconic posture are all here — before evolving into something more complicated. Lovia Gyarkye, The Hollywood Reporter, 8 Mar. 2024 Here’s the complicated part we’re all supposed to forget: Pop superstars are just people, worthy of grace, but also rich people, worthy of scrutiny. Chris Richards, Washington Post, 8 Mar. 2024 On a special episode of The Excerpt podcast: The ethical and legal issues of IVF, or in vitro fertilization, are complicated. Dana Taylor, USA TODAY, 1 Mar. 2024 The big farewell episode finds Gibbs untangling a complicated case that takes him to Alaska. Sara Netzley, EW.com, 29 Feb. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'complicated.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

from past participle of complicate entry 1

First Known Use

1656, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of complicated was in 1656

Dictionary Entries Near complicated

Cite this Entry

“Complicated.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/complicated. Accessed 18 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

complicated

adjective
com·​pli·​cat·​ed ˈkäm-plə-ˌkāt-əd How to pronounce complicated (audio)
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

More from Merriam-Webster on complicated

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