complicate

1 of 2

verb

com·​pli·​cate ˈkäm-plə-ˌkāt 

complicated; complicating

transitive verb

1

: to make complex or difficult

2

: involve

especially : to cause to be more complex or severe

a virus disease complicated by bacterial infection

3

: to combine especially in an involved or inextricable manner

complicate

2 of 2

adjective

com·​pli·​cate ˈkäm-pli-kət 

1

: complex, intricate

2

: conduplicate

Synonyms of complicate

Verb

• complex
• intensify
• embarrass
• perplex
• complexify
• confuse
• entangle

Adjective

• complicated
• intricate
• complex

Examples of complicate in a Sentence

Verb

Changing jobs now would complicate her life.

a disease complicated by infection

Adjective

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

Recent Examples on the Web

Verb

The surrounding success complicates Ross’ legacy, offsetting somewhat but not erasing his football team’s failures. —Greg Cote may 7, Miami Herald, 7 May 2026

All of this comes as the couple has faced allegations that the adjustment to married life has been complicated, to say the least. —Lizzie Lanuza, StyleCaster, 7 May 2026

Adjective

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

But recent studies on the impact of AI complicate Andreessen’s assessment. —Jake Angelo, Fortune, 31 Mar. 2026

Word History

Etymology

Verb

earlier, "to fold together, intertwine, combine in an involved manner," borrowed from Medieval Latin complicātus, past participle of complicāre "to fold together, wrap around, envelop, interweave" — more at complicate entry 2

Adjective

borrowed from Medieval Latin complicātus, from past participle of complicāre "to fold together, wrap around, envelop, interweave," going back to Latin, "to fold together, fold up," from com- com- + plicāre "to fold, bend" — more at ply entry 3

First Known Use

Verb

1672, in the meaning defined at sense 3

Adjective

1638, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing complicate

• complicate matters

Rhymes for complicate

• abdicate
• abrogate
• acetate
• activate
• actuate
• aggravate
• agitate
• alginate
• alienate
• allocate
• amputate
• angulate

Kids Definition

complicate

verb

com·​pli·​cate

ˈkäm-plə-ˌkāt

complicated; complicating

: to make or become complex or difficult

Medical Definition

complicate

transitive verb

com·​pli·​cate ˈkäm-plə-ˌkāt 

complicated; complicating

: to cause to be more complex or severe

a virus disease complicated by bacterial infection