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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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complete

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adjective

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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
The announcement comes one week after Indiana won at Miami to complete major college football's first 16-0 season since the 1890s and bring home the school's first football national title. Arkansas Online, 27 Jan. 2026 Last year, the Illinois Department of Transportation completed one of its busiest construction seasons ever, making hundreds of safety improvements, including upgrades to I-55. The Editorial Board, Chicago Tribune, 26 Jan. 2026
Adjective
Sweetcrispy Full-length Gold Mirror No hotel room is complete without a full-length mirror, and for more than just ensuring your outfit of the day is on point. Brittney Morgan, Travel + Leisure, 12 Jan. 2026 Some called for a complete reversal of the measure, while others asked for rule revisions. Garrett Shanley, Miami Herald, 12 Jan. 2026 See All Example Sentences for complete
Recent Examples of Synonyms for complete
Verb
  • But one accolade missing from their long list of achievements is Olympic ice dance gold, having finished just off the podium in fourth in Beijing.
    Michelle Bruton, Forbes.com, 27 Jan. 2026
  • After interviewing for multiple head coaching jobs this month, McDaniel agreed to join Jim Harbaugh with the Chargers, who finished their second straight 11-6 season under their veteran head coach with another playoff exit in the wild-card round.
    Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 27 Jan. 2026
Verb
  • Shepard complemented his wife in a Giorgio Armani black one-button peak lapel tuxedo trimmed in satin, along with a white evening shirt and a necktie.
    Katie Hill, PEOPLE, 12 Jan. 2026
  • Marin County public works crews and Ghilotti Construction brought in 6-inch pumps to complement the city’s 6-inch pump and try to lower the water level.
    Steven Rosenfeld, Mercury News, 12 Jan. 2026
Verb
  • Tesla signaled a major shift in its business as CEO Elon Musk told investors the company will end production of its longest-running premium electric vehicles.
    Sujita Sinha, Interesting Engineering, 29 Jan. 2026
  • That lawsuit ended earlier this month after the immigrant detainee who filed the case agreed to be removed from the United States.
    Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 29 Jan. 2026
Verb
  • Griot is a West African term for an oral historian and storyteller, a role many saw Bullock fulfilling.
    Chadd Scott, Forbes.com, 28 Jan. 2026
  • The company had touted the service’s ability to cut the retailer’s delivery times by fulfilling closer to the consumer.
    Glenn Taylor, Sourcing Journal, 28 Jan. 2026
Adjective
  • There’s an entire mindset switch, a complete flip between working as an individual contributor and becoming a leader or manager.
    Rachel Wells, Forbes.com, 29 Jan. 2026
  • For the previous ten seconds, a huge green piece of a caterpillar roll had required the curator’s entire attention.
    Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 29 Jan. 2026
Adjective
  • Bridgeland Distillery’s cask-finished single malt also took honors, showing how finishing and single malt production are becoming bigger parts of the Canadian landscape.
    Emily Price, Forbes.com, 29 Jan. 2026
  • The finished villa must meet live housing standards, not demonstration benchmarks.
    Aamir Khollam, Interesting Engineering, 28 Jan. 2026
Adjective
  • The company is preparing a comprehensive debt restructuring after authorities asked it to submit a plan as soon as possible, people familiar with the matter said in early January.
    Bloomberg News, Bloomberg, 28 Jan. 2026
  • There was no comprehensive catalog, no index.
    Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 28 Jan. 2026
Adjective
  • The barrage of images broadcast out of Minneapolis and surrounding regions depict violent and brutal encounters and capture moments of utter fear, pain and confusion.
    Alicia Wallace, CNN Money, 24 Jan. 2026
  • Overall, though, Payton showed an utter unwillingness to trust his backfield against one of the league’s worst rushing defenses in the Bills.
    Luca Evans, Denver Post, 19 Jan. 2026

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Complete.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/complete. Accessed 1 Feb. 2026.

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