1
as in complicated
having many parts or aspects that are usually interrelated
this medical device is a complex instrument that requires careful handling complex issues regarding free speech and school discipline
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Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in intricate
made or done with great care or with much detail
a complex plan for evacuating the city in the event of a natural disaster
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
1
as in facility
a structure that is designed and built for a particular purpose
an apartment complex
Synonyms & Similar Words
2
as in system
something made up of many interdependent or related parts
a complex of government programs designed to assist the needy
Synonyms & Similar Words
as in to complicate
to make complex or difficult
there's no need to complex what should be a simple process for obtaining a building permit
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of complex
Jason Phillips, Ascend Agency, 30 Jan. 2026
So existential was the plight of the Reader, which has continued to lose money since converting to a nonprofit nearly four years ago, that its board handed over the keys to Noisy Creek in August in a complex ownership transfer that has yet to be consummated.
—Robert Channick, Chicago Tribune, 30 Jan. 2026
Matthew Rodriguez, CBS News, 28 Jan. 2026
The body wash contains a multi-oil complex to lock in hydration and keep the skin soft, while the body lotion contains niacinamide to enhance skin tone and texture.
—Reece Andavolgyi, InStyle, 28 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for complex
Adjective
Concerns surrounding tech stocks, liquidity, and a variety of other complex factors had contributed to a deepening risk mood in crypto spaces.
—Jason Phillips, Ascend Agency, 30 Jan. 2026
So existential was the plight of the Reader, which has continued to lose money since converting to a nonprofit nearly four years ago, that its board handed over the keys to Noisy Creek in August in a complex ownership transfer that has yet to be consummated.
—Robert Channick, Chicago Tribune, 30 Jan. 2026
Noun
The second floor of the complex appeared to have significant damage, with a large section of the front missing and parts of the roof collapsed, according to video from the scene.
—Matthew Rodriguez, CBS News, 28 Jan. 2026
The body wash contains a multi-oil complex to lock in hydration and keep the skin soft, while the body lotion contains niacinamide to enhance skin tone and texture.
—Reece Andavolgyi, InStyle, 28 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for complex
Recent Examples of Synonyms for complex
Adjective
-
The game's flight model is incredibly complicated, with a focus on realistic modeling and some notoriously finicky landing mechanics.—
Alan Bradley,
Space.com,
31 Jan. 2026
-
Lebanon and Syria have a complicated history with grievances on both sides.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
31 Jan. 2026
Adjective
-
But the overlap with unusually frigid temperatures afflicting Florida's Space Coast and the rest of the country have turned Crew-12's launch opportunities into an intricate dance around Artemis 2.—
Josh Dinner,
Space.com,
30 Jan. 2026
-
This intricate South Korean drama is reminiscent in tone to The Killing, the spectacularly atmospheric Danish (and later American) procedural.—
Declan Gallagher,
Entertainment Weekly,
30 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
Now, lawmakers are considering expanding the list further to include medical and behavioral health facilities, schools, colleges and universities.—
Shaun Boyd,
CBS News,
28 Jan. 2026
-
The claim was filed in November in a UK High Court dealing with commercial issues by Libyan Foreign Bank, a unit of the Central Bank of Libya known as LFB, over loans taken out against a 2001 credit facility that Zimbabwe has allegedly failed to honor, court documents show.—
William Clowes,
Bloomberg,
28 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
No modern industrial narrative would be complete without Elon Musk, whose ventures span autonomous systems, space infrastructure, energy storage, and neural interfaces.—
Phil Kafarakis,
Forbes.com,
27 Jan. 2026
-
Aviation officials made strides to change military helicopter flight path rules around Washington, DC, and later promised a new air traffic control system would be implemented during the current presidential administration to support aviation safety.—
Alexandra Skores,
CNN Money,
27 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
Even in the free states, attitudes toward slavery were complicated.—
Jelani Cobb,
New Yorker,
30 Jan. 2026
-
Treatment is complicated by difficulty detecting the cancer in early stages, and its resistance to common cancer drugs.—
Jenna Prestininzi,
Freep.com,
30 Jan. 2026
Adjective
-
However, in recent years, expanding through acquisitions has required more sophisticated thinking and execution.—
Amelia Lucas,
CNBC,
31 Jan. 2026
-
From warm neutrals to deep earth tones, designers agree that countertops in 2026 will strike a delicate balance between sophisticated and unexpectedly playful.—
Cori Sears,
The Spruce,
30 Jan. 2026
Adjective
-
The study authors then fed this information into a detailed three-dimensional computer model designed to simulate the sun’s internal magnetic machinery.—
Rupendra Brahambhatt,
Interesting Engineering,
1 Feb. 2026
-
As detailed above, Benfica were off the pace in the league, out of the two Portuguese cups and seemingly heading out of Europe — all with a squad filled with questionable recruits, creaking veterans and unproven kids.—
Nick Miller,
New York Times,
31 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
China for decades has cultivated an extensive network of ties across Latin America and the Caribbean, a region that encompasses more than 30 countries and 670 million people.—
Simone McCarthy,
CNN Money,
31 Jan. 2026
-
The company has earmarked at least $10 billion to build the network.—
Annie Palmer,
CNBC,
31 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Complex.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/complex. Accessed 1 Feb. 2026.
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