complex 1 of 3

complex

2 of 3

noun

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

complex

3 of 3

verb

Synonym Chooser

How does the adjective complex differ from other similar words?

Some common synonyms of complex are complicated, intricate, involved, and knotty. While all these words mean "having confusingly interrelated parts," complex suggests the unavoidable result of a necessary combining and does not imply a fault or failure.

a complex recipe

When is complicated a more appropriate choice than complex?

While the synonyms complicated and complex are close in meaning, complicated applies to what offers great difficulty in understanding, solving, or explaining.

complicated legal procedures

When might intricate be a better fit than complex?

The synonyms intricate and complex are sometimes interchangeable, but intricate suggests such interlacing of parts as to make it nearly impossible to follow or grasp them separately.

an intricate web of deceit

When is it sensible to use involved instead of complex?

Although the words involved and complex have much in common, involved implies extreme complication and often disorder.

a rambling, involved explanation

When would knotty be a good substitute for complex?

While in some cases nearly identical to complex, knotty suggests complication and entanglement that make solution or understanding improbable.

knotty ethical questions

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 complex
Adjective
But on the most complex tasks, some little thing always goes wrong. Reed Albergotti, semafor.com, 22 Oct. 2025 Wine, too, has a complex history in Virginia. Osayi Endolyn, Bon Appetit Magazine, 22 Oct. 2025
Noun
The restaurant first opened in 1999, but its original location is located at the Park Road Shopping Center, Charlotte’s first open-air shopping complex. Charlotte Observer, 21 Oct. 2025 Another major Renaissance Center occupant is preparing to leave the iconic office complex, yet stay in downtown Detroit. Jc Reindl, Freep.com, 21 Oct. 2025 See All Example Sentences for complex
Recent Examples of Synonyms for complex
Adjective
  • Their double life soon gets complicated when a rival boy band harboring a sinister secret begins stealing their fans.
    Ingrid Vasquez, PEOPLE, 25 Oct. 2025
  • In many ways, that has made keeping up with news about King Charles’ illness much more complicated.
    Lizzie Lanuza, StyleCaster, 24 Oct. 2025
Adjective
  • The group remains committed to intricate harmonies, which are a source of the album’s unique pleasures.
    Hanif Abdurraqib, New Yorker, 18 Oct. 2025
  • They are designed with intricate details and a grand gold rim that would pair perfectly with these Gold Acorn Appetizer Plates.
    Maggie Horton, PEOPLE, 18 Oct. 2025
Noun
  • Rather than head home, several players chose to stay at the facilities and begin their recuperation by hitting the ice baths and sauna, resources that have been upgraded since renovation work was completed in August.
    Laurie Whitwell, New York Times, 23 Oct. 2025
  • Many reviewers credited the beach’s immaculate facilities and amenities— including bathrooms, charcoal grills, tables, and picnic pavilions—for making their visits true trips to paradise.
    Lydia Price, Travel + Leisure, 22 Oct. 2025
Noun
  • But the complex pricing system that the company put in place instead cost it millions of visitors, Speigel said.
    Shannon Pettypiece, NBC news, 24 Oct. 2025
  • The research team revealed that the findings of the study offer new insights into enhancing the performance of electrochemical systems, including batteries, fuel cells, and sensors.
    Prabhat Ranjan Mishra, Interesting Engineering, 24 Oct. 2025
Verb
  • Sparked by a budget impasse, the shutdown’s ripple effects are now reaching state-level programs, with funding delays and legal constraints complicating the picture.
    Amanda Castro, MSNBC Newsweek, 22 Oct. 2025
  • Growing up, Preston and Jayden often accompanied their mom on tour and visited during her Las Vegas residency, but Federline and Spears' co-parenting relationship has often been complicated.
    Emily Krauser, PEOPLE, 21 Oct. 2025
Adjective
  • Gone is the Monster’s sophisticated consciousness, his months spent in solitude, his intimate revenge plot.
    Rory Doherty, Vulture, 20 Oct. 2025
  • The police had found evidence not only of a network ferrying cocaine from South America to European ports but also of a sophisticated money-laundering organization worth hundreds of millions of euros—an enterprise rivalling the narcotics business in its size.
    Ed Caesar, New Yorker, 20 Oct. 2025
Adjective
  • The collection includes 3,100 black-and-white images taken in nearly 300 villages, towns, and cities around the country as well as the negatives and detailed data sheets describing construction techniques, materials, and historical context for each building.
    JSTOR Daily, JSTOR Daily, 25 Oct. 2025
  • Leafs coach Craig Berube did not provide a detailed update on Nylander’s possible injury.
    Joshua Kloke, New York Times, 25 Oct. 2025
Noun
  • The Tunnels story is that Chinese immigrants built a network of tunnels under the city because they were forced to live underground; the tunnels were then used by gangsters and bootleggers, including Al Capone.
    JSTOR Daily, JSTOR Daily, 20 Oct. 2025
  • The benefits of that blockbuster merger, which gave Capital One a proprietary payments network to lessen its reliance on Mastercard and Visa over time, are at the heart of our investment thesis.
    Zev Fima,Kevin Stankiewicz, CNBC, 19 Oct. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Complex.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/complex. Accessed 27 Oct. 2025.

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