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Definition of completenext
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as in to complement
to serve as a completing element to the bird's beautiful song simply completes its appeal for pet owners

Synonyms & Similar Words

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as in to end
to bring (an event) to a natural or appropriate stopping point the well-attended concert completed a great weekend of arts and entertainment events

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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Synonym Chooser

How does the verb complete differ from other similar words?

Some common synonyms of complete are close, conclude, end, finish, and terminate. While all these words mean "to bring or come to a stopping point or limit," complete implies the removal of all deficiencies or a successful finishing of what has been undertaken.

the resolving of this last issue completes the agreement

Where would close be a reasonable alternative to complete?

The meanings of close and complete largely overlap; however, close usually implies that something has been in some way open as well as unfinished.

close a debate

In what contexts can conclude take the place of complete?

While the synonyms conclude and complete are close in meaning, conclude may imply a formal closing (as of a meeting).

the service concluded with a blessing

When could end be used to replace complete?

Although the words end and complete have much in common, end conveys a strong sense of finality.

ended his life

When might finish be a better fit than complete?

The words finish and complete can be used in similar contexts, but finish may stress completion of a final step in a process.

after it is painted, the house will be finished

When would terminate be a good substitute for complete?

In some situations, the words terminate and complete are roughly equivalent. However, terminate implies the setting of a limit in time or space.

your employment terminates after three months

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of complete
Verb
Mahomes was by no means dominant, completing only 55 percent of his passes and throwing 2 TD passes and 1 interception. Armando Salguero Outkick, FOXNews.com, 15 Sep. 2026 Because the start of Mahomes finding the touch that would enable him to complete 13 of his final 15 passes for 170 yards and two touchdowns was a third-and-10 pass to Walker in the left flat. Kansas City Star, 15 Sep. 2026
Adjective
Pair with the coordinating tapered trousers for a complete look. Madeline Fass, Vogue, 14 Sep. 2026 The information investigators find is, however, published in a final report and docket and is publicly available after an investigation is complete. Alexandra Skores, CNN Money, 14 Sep. 2026 See All Example Sentences for complete
Recent Examples of Synonyms for complete
Verb
  • The daffodils here were almost finished, apart from one little patch of stragglers still flowering on heroically against the odds.
    Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 15 Sep. 2026
  • Tools can also summarize meeting transcripts, identify follow-up tasks and prepare customer relationship management (CRM) updates before a salesperson finishes their next meeting.
    Don Markland, Forbes.com, 15 Sep. 2026
Verb
  • Opened in 2019, the resort cascades down the mountainside across nine levels, with contemporary architecture that complements the landscape rather than competing with it.
    Vicki Power, TheWeek, 14 Sep. 2026
  • Its higher rise is complemented by a full leg that tapers slightly below the knee.
    Eric Twardzik, Robb Report, 14 Sep. 2026
Verb
  • Season five ended abruptly after a video leaked of Taylor Frankie Paul throwing a stool at her ex Dakota Mortensen and almost hitting her daughter.
    Alejandra Gularte, Vulture, 15 Sep. 2026
  • The World Health Organization said more than 500 people were killed in a weeklong period ending Saturday, a sharp increase.
    Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 15 Sep. 2026
Verb
  • The study successfully fulfilled the terms of the National Environmental Policy Act.
    Aman Tripathi, Interesting Engineering, 5 Sep. 2026
  • Louise Fletcher, also interviewed and a lovely presence, wanted a fulfilling artistic experience and got chaos.
    Robert Abele, Los Angeles Times, 4 Sep. 2026
Adjective
  • The entire Braves offense struggled, but it’s especially felt from first baseman Olson.
    Jesús Cano, New York Times, 11 Sep. 2026
  • Beyond the supermarket, however, grocery prices will also reflect the rising cost of diesel across the entire food supply chain, starting with farmers.
    Steve Kopack, NBC news, 11 Sep. 2026
Adjective
  • At the beginning of Roman's design process, the fuel capacity was chosen to permit a maximum mass of 21,605 pounds (9,800 kilograms), yet the finished spacecraft came in lighter at 17,760 pounds (8,065 kilograms).
    Keith Cooper, Space.com, 15 Sep. 2026
  • While a language model can learn from a finished document or piece of code, an agent needs to learn how to choose actions, use tools, respond to intermediate results and recover from mistakes.
    Wen Shao, Fortune, 14 Sep. 2026
Adjective
  • China’s grain output reached a record 715 million tons in 2025, while national plans call for increasing comprehensive grain production capacity to about 725 million tons by 2030.
    Jijo Malayil, Interesting Engineering, 9 Sep. 2026
  • In May, Raman announced a comprehensive Palisades recovery plan that touched on many of the demands fire survivors had been voicing for more than a year.
    Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 9 Sep. 2026
Adjective
  • This Ninth — featuring the Los Angeles Master Chorale and four superb vocal soloists (Saioa Hernández, Tamara Mumford, David Portillo and Ryan Speedo Green) — became Beethoven, alive in the moment, an instrument of utter joy.
    Classical Music Critic, Los Angeles Times, 26 Aug. 2026
  • Sweet, aromatic, and bubblegum pink, this playful cocktail is the utter definition of fun.
    Bradleigh Mobley, Bon Appetit Magazine, 24 Aug. 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Complete.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/complete. Accessed 17 Sep. 2026.

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