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

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complete information
detailed information
true information
correct information
comprehensive information
full information
complete understanding
perfect understanding
full understanding
absolute understanding
sufficient understanding
total understanding
complete coverage
total coverage
full coverage
enough coverage
excellent coverage
over-all coverage
a complete list
a detailed list
an extensive list
an exhaustive list
a definitive list
a conclusive list
complete lack
total lack

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 addition, which will supply A50 models to North American buyers, is expected to be completed this summer. Robb Report Studio, Robb Report, 6 June 2025 However, Reuters reports that Egyptian transport minister Kamel al-Wazir recently told a conference in Egypt that the planning stage for a bridge between Egypt and Saudi Arabia has been completed, and that his country is ready to implement it at any time. Adam Williams, New Atlas, 6 June 2025
Adjective
The globally beloved chicken chain also announced the return of the brand's iconic Fill Ups, complete meals that offer combinations of food, for just $7. Kait Hanson, Southern Living, 5 June 2025 The Phantom 3500’s wings achieve complete laminar flow, allowing for smoother airflow and reduced drag, enabling the aircraft to take off from runways as short as 3,500 feet, nearly doubling the number of accessible airports in the U.S. alone compared to similar-sized jets. Kurt Knutsson, FOXNews.com, 5 June 2025 See All Example Sentences for complete
Recent Examples of Synonyms for complete
Verb
  • If one or more teams are level at the end of the group stage, their finishing position will be determined by points obtained in the matches between the sides in question, not goal difference, like at the World Cup.
    Will Jeanes, New York Times, 6 June 2025
  • Both finished in the top three in voting, with Verse walking away with the award after posting 36 tackles and 4.5 sacks.
    DJ Siddiqi, Forbes.com, 5 June 2025
Verb
  • Passive income should complement your current offers, not compete with them.
    Melissa Houston, Forbes.com, 6 June 2025
  • Her flashy game perfectly complements that of Allisha Gray, the WNBA Eastern Conference player of the month.
    Devin Robertson, MSNBC Newsweek, 6 June 2025
Verb
  • The health impacts of being exposed to air pollution from wildfires can last for months, even after a fire has ended, according to a new analysis.
    Jamie Hailstone, Forbes.com, 3 June 2025
  • But since the spring legislative session ended, Ford has had joint meetings with cannabis and hemp operators in an attempt to reach some compromise.
    Robert McCoppin, Chicago Tribune, 3 June 2025
Verb
  • These are the building blocks that will help retailers fulfill the promise of their RMNs—not just as a media platform, but as a growth engine.
    Lindsey Mazza, Forbes.com, 6 June 2025
  • To fulfill President Donald Trump's plan to build America into a manufacturing powerhouse, permitting reform needs to go hand-in-hand with the administration's industrial strategy, which also includes tariffs on steel, tax cuts, and deregulation.
    Matt Robison, MSNBC Newsweek, 5 June 2025
Adjective
  • That means your entire income isn’t taxed at one flat rate.
    Karla Dennis, Forbes.com, 10 June 2025
  • Best of all, though, was the Egyptian revival-style desert hotel, particularly the ballroom containing a large model of the entire infrastructure project, decorated in pharaohs and hieroglyphics.
    Bill Desowitz, IndieWire, 10 June 2025
Adjective
  • The event shows the process of making natural textiles from sheep to finished fabric.
    Linda Mcintosh, San Diego Union-Tribune, 6 June 2025
  • Consumer goods: One of the world’s largest apparel companies uses mapping and analytics to trace its supply chain across 40 countries—from raw materials with farmers and fabric makers to finished products–compressing six-month reporting tasks into days or weeks.
    Cindy Elliott, Forbes.com, 6 June 2025
Adjective
  • Employee Health and Productivity Many small businesses have tight budgets and struggle to provide basic benefits, much less comprehensive health insurance to all employees.
    Rhett Buttle, Forbes.com, 9 June 2025
  • By understanding the task behind a query, Google hopes to provide AI answers that save people time, even if the model needs a few ticks to fan out and run multiple searches to generate a more comprehensive report on a topic.
    Ryan Whitwam, ArsTechnica, 6 June 2025
Adjective
  • But that meeting’s collapse—and, more broadly, the utter failure of sanctions to prevent North Korea from developing its nuclear potential—may prompt him to support Seoul’s push.
    John Delury, Foreign Affairs, 3 June 2025
  • The Civil War, which is jeopardizing his presidency, has turned him into an utter killjoy.
    Charles McNulty, Los Angeles Times, 3 June 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Complete.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/complete. Accessed 17 Jun. 2025.

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