complete 1 of 2

1
2
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

3
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

4

complete

2 of 2

adjective

1
2
3
4
5
6

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
The preseason game took more than three hours to complete, at times saw a half-dozen Lightning players in the penalty box and at one point saw a third-period goal taken off the board because a player that had gotten ejected (Florida’s Niko Mikkola) was on the ice and assisted on the tally. Jordan McPherson, Miami Herald, 5 Oct. 2025 Giants quarterback Russell Wilson had trouble completing passes and threw two interceptions in the first half, and Giants fans, who already have a baseline level of frustration after several years of mostly ineptitude, are beside themselves. Robert Marvi, MSNBC Newsweek, 22 Sep. 2025
Adjective
The layout of the interior includes two sunny, bright bedrooms, one large, open-concept living room and kitchen, and a full bathroom complete with a marble shower. Merrell Readman, Travel + Leisure, 4 Oct. 2025 While no service can guarantee the complete removal of your data from the internet, a data removal service is really a smart choice. Kurt Knutsson, FOXNews.com, 4 Oct. 2025 See All Example Sentences for complete
Recent Examples of Synonyms for complete
Verb
  • This is fantastic for multitasking and can make the difference between finishing your workload and getting to it next shift.
    Jade Chung-Lee, PC Magazine, 8 Oct. 2025
  • Breslow mentioned more than once the need to add power to the lineup; the Red Sox finished the season 15th in the majors with 186 homers.
    Jen McCaffrey, New York Times, 7 Oct. 2025
Verb
  • At 20 liters, this pack is big enough for a weekend getaway and definitely the perfect size to complement your rollaboard for longer trips.
    Carin Ryan, Travel + Leisure, 4 Oct. 2025
  • Despite only having two players from the previous year on the roster, Phoenix was able to fill out the roster with former overseas pros and accurate shooters to complement Thomas’s downhill style.
    Devin Robertson, MSNBC Newsweek, 3 Oct. 2025
Verb
  • Get skillets, Dutch ovens, cake pans, and more before the sale ends.
    Caley Sturgill, Southern Living, 9 Oct. 2025
  • All federal employees who are not paid during the shutdown, whether they were furloughed or remained working, are entitled by law to back pay once the shutdown ends.
    Miranda Jeyaretnam, Time, 8 Oct. 2025
Verb
  • For the previous two games in this National League Division Series, the Dodgers had fulfilled the task that kept their coaches and staff up late at night.
    Fabian Ardaya, New York Times, 9 Oct. 2025
  • Yeah, but again, so fulfilling creatively.
    Vogue, Vogue, 9 Oct. 2025
Adjective
  • But every once in a while, someone shifts your entire perspective.
    Kimberly Wilson, Essence, 9 Oct. 2025
  • There’s a bit too much fruit notes and kind of a younger whiskey feeling to WLW this year, although out of the context of the entire collection this is not a bad pour at all.
    Jonah Flicker, Robb Report, 8 Oct. 2025
Adjective
  • Alternate 4-inch layers of shredded organic matter with 1 inch of topsoil or finished compost.
    Neil Sperry, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 10 Oct. 2025
  • Having local celebrities to tap into hands buyers the opportunity to easily adapt the format for their own territories, says Mike Beale, managing director of ITV Studios Creative Network, who says format sales will be prioritized over finished tape.
    Jesse Whittock, Deadline, 9 Oct. 2025
Adjective
  • Then the Shasta County Coroner’s Office collaborated with Othram, whose scientists extracted DNA from the remains and employed its Forensic-Grade Genome Sequencing to construct a comprehensive DNA profile, the laboratory said in a news release.
    David Chiu, PEOPLE, 6 Oct. 2025
  • Specializing in criminal defense, civil rights litigation, personal injury, family law, and sports entertainment, the firm employs a comprehensive approach.
    Malana VanTyler, USA Today, 6 Oct. 2025
Adjective
  • Ray is the leader of a biker gang and demands utter subservience.
    Jason P. Frank, Vulture, 2 Oct. 2025
  • Outside, the scene among the sea of red was one of utter devastation.
    James Pearce, New York Times, 30 Sep. 2025

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Complete.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/complete. Accessed 11 Oct. 2025.

More from Merriam-Webster on complete

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!