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 Faulconer had overruled a recommendation to purchase the building outright and chose instead to enter a complicated lease arrangement, internal city emails showed. Jeff McDonald, San Diego Union-Tribune, 24 Mar. 2024 At least two are highly complicated watches in precious metals, the Bao Dai and the Ref. 4113 Split-Seconds—the type of timepiece Rolex no longer really produces, with the exception perhaps of the Sky-Dweller. Oren Hartov, Robb Report, 22 Mar. 2024 There are so many complicated and fancy-sounding breathing techniques out there, but don’t get bogged down by all the technicalities. Jenna Ryu, SELF, 22 Mar. 2024 Coming Wednesday: Four more facets of Milwaukee’s complicated and worrisome school landscape. Alan J. Borsuk, Journal Sentinel, 22 Mar. 2024 Others were more complicated and ambitious, but ultimately didn’t work with the game. Megan Farokhmanesh, WIRED, 22 Mar. 2024 But in a market as complicated and competitive as New York City, this may not be in their best interests. Anna Kodé, New York Times, 21 Mar. 2024 The move comes as Americans face an increasingly complicated health care landscape. Norah O'Donnell, CBS News, 20 Mar. 2024 The technologically inclined are chasing goals even more complicated than selecting the winners of all 67 matchups in both the men’s and women’s NCAA tournaments. James Pollard, The Christian Science Monitor, 19 Mar. 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 29 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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