complex 1 of 3

Definition of complexnext

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
The episode highlights an ongoing struggle within figure skating, which is seeking to appeal to new fans with contemporary music, which in turn necessitates complex licensing agreements with recording artists. Sara Germano, Sportico.com, 6 Feb. 2026 Once the condo was sold, the situation shifted from a criminal scam to a complex civil fight. Kurt Knutsson, FOXNews.com, 6 Feb. 2026
Noun
The project For the new stadium, Wyandotte County and the state have agreed on a property in west KCK, just northwest of the Kansas Speedway and near the site of the soon-to-be new American Royal complex. Kansas City Star, 4 Feb. 2026 Thai troops uncovered a sprawling scam complex in Cambodia where international fraud rings used mock police stations and bank replicas to deceive billions of victims globally. Sakchai Lalit, Los Angeles Times, 3 Feb. 2026 See All Example Sentences for complex
Recent Examples of Synonyms for complex
Adjective
  • But looming is the question of whether the federal immigration officers who pulled the triggers in both cases actually broke the law, a question that will come down to complicated issues that are much harder to define than the outrage that prompted calls for accountability.
    Andy Rose, CNN Money, 7 Feb. 2026
  • Readers send Miss Manners not only their table and party questions, but those involving the more complicated aspects of life - romance, work, family relationships, child-rearing, death - as well as philosophical and moral dilemmas.
    Judith Martin, Dallas Morning News, 7 Feb. 2026
Adjective
  • That alone distinguishes Bienvenu’s take on a futuristic reality from most sci-fi narratives, which often occur in sleek, cold labs, desolate planets, or intricate spaceships floating in the vastness of space.
    Carlos Aguilar, Variety, 6 Feb. 2026
  • The dress was adorned with intricate three-dimensional floral details at the top and also down at the hip at the start of the slit, with more delicate beaded embellishments cascading along the bare leg.
    Karla Rodriguez, Footwear News, 6 Feb. 2026
Noun
  • On Saturday, Portland Mayor Keith Wilson demanded ICE leave his city after federal officers deployed tear gas at a crowd of demonstrators outside the agency's facility.
    Landon Mion, FOXNews.com, 4 Feb. 2026
  • The jail is still drying out after the water main break over the weekend, which forced parts of the facility offline and added to growing concerns about infrastructure failures inside the building.
    La'Tasha Givens, CBS News, 3 Feb. 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
  • Its demise was complicated, tragic, and has remained mostly untold, until now.
    Rob Picheta, CNN Money, 7 Feb. 2026
  • ChatGPT's early lead among individual users appears to be shortening as rivals like Google’s Gemini close in on its app and web market share—a shift that could complicate the company’s reported plans to IPO later this year.
    Alexei Oreskovic, Fortune, 6 Feb. 2026
Adjective
  • Insights into Alzheimer’s Interestingly, the molecular tricks spiders use to spin their webs are similar to the sophisticated signaling processes found in human neurotransmitter and hormone receptors.
    Mrigakshi Dixit, Interesting Engineering, 6 Feb. 2026
  • Fleming, who was one of the judges this year, said the event’s growth is indicative of the large number of sophisticated bakeries that have opened in metro Denver in the past few years and of the camaraderie that exists between their pastry chefs.
    Miguel Otárola, Denver Post, 6 Feb. 2026
Adjective
  • It was produced by federal prosecutors in the Southern District of New York and provides an even more detailed overview of other interviews conducted by the New York State Attorney’s Office and the FBI with victims, witnesses and people associated with Epstein.
    Julie K. Brown, Miami Herald, 7 Feb. 2026
  • But district leaders said a recent increase in protests — particularly those that moved off campus — prompted the need for clearer, more detailed protocols.
    Marley Malenfant, Austin American Statesman, 7 Feb. 2026
Noun
  • Kotb anchored a segment about the support Savannah Guthrie is receiving from fellow media figures like CBS Mornings‘ Gayle King and ABC World News Tonight‘s David Muir, both of whom were shown expressing their sympathy for Savannah Guthrie on their respective shows on rival networks.
    Hilary Lewis, HollywoodReporter, 6 Feb. 2026
  • Rakuten is a cash-back app that rewards both online and in-store purchases, as long as the retailer is within Rakuten’s network.
    Andreina Rodriguez, CNBC, 6 Feb. 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Complex.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/complex. Accessed 10 Feb. 2026.

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