complex 1 of 4

complex

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noun (1)

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 4

verb

complexness

4 of 4

noun (2)

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complex systems
large systems
large-scale systems
hard systems
advanced systems
complex problems
intricate problems
tough problems
sophistical problems
convoluted problems
confusing problems
a complex structure
a difficult structure
a complicated structure
a detailed structure
a large structure
an elaborate structure
complex interactions
sophisticated interactions
detailed interactions
deep interactions
multiple interactions
several interactions
a complex process
a hard process
a long process
a massive process
an involved process
a huge process

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
However, the way this money circulates within Gaza is far more complex. Efrat Lachter, FOXNews.com, 27 Apr. 2025 On the 16th hole, Phillips' ball ended up near the lake, home to alligators, making the situation more complex. Mark Weinstein, MSNBC Newsweek, 27 Apr. 2025
Noun
Her father was a maintenance manager for apartment complexes and condo buildings in California before moving the family to Loxahatchee, Florida, when Virginia was in grade school. Julie K. Brown, Miami Herald, 26 Apr. 2025 Shariff was attacked three blocks away from his home, inside a W. 104th St. building near Columbus Ave., in NYCHA’s Frederick Douglass II Houses complex, around 11:55 p.m. on April 18. Roni Jacobson, New York Daily News, 24 Apr. 2025 See All Example Sentences for complex
Recent Examples of Synonyms for complex
Adjective
  • The Princess of Wales is coming off a very complicated year.
    Blanche Marcel, Glamour, 28 Apr. 2025
  • Admittedly, the show started to lose some momentum in later seasons as subplots and shifting relationships became more complicated.
    ArsTechnica, ArsTechnica, 27 Apr. 2025
Adjective
  • Dutch florists provided tens of thousands of flowers in an intricate, colorful layout − a tradition in its 39th year.
    John Bacon, USA Today, 21 Apr. 2025
  • At its core, quilting involves stitching together layers of fabric, often in intricate patterns, to create both beautiful and functional items.
    Abby Wolner, Better Homes & Gardens, 19 Apr. 2025
Verb
  • Meanwhile, the picture for other automakers is complicated, to say the least.
    Justin Worland, Time, 25 Apr. 2025
  • What complicates the picture are Makhachev’s own ambitions.
    Brian Mazique, Forbes.com, 24 Apr. 2025
Adjective
  • According to Google, zero-day exploits are becoming increasingly easy for threat actors to develop and procure, which has led to more sophisticated attacks.
    ArsTechnica, ArsTechnica, 29 Apr. 2025
  • The key benefits of integration include: • Enhanced Threat Detection: By unifying security tools, organizations can achieve a holistic view of their threat landscape, enabling the identification of sophisticated attacks that might evade stand-alone systems.
    Bob Kruse, Forbes.com, 29 Apr. 2025
Adjective
  • The teen, who hails from the English city of Chelmsford, underwent more detailed scans at his follow-up appointment, when doctors discovered a large tumor in his brain — a diffuse glioma, stage 4.
    Cara Lynn Shultz, People.com, 30 Apr. 2025
  • These operations have been executed using detailed and comprehensive intelligence ensuring lethal effects against the Houthis while minimizing risk to civilians.
    Tom Rogers, MSNBC Newsweek, 29 Apr. 2025
Adjective
  • With elegant interiors, a stunning outdoor patio, and a nod to the artistic and culinary traditions of the Côte d'Azur, Claudie invites guests to indulge in the magic of the South of France with every visit.
    Erica Wertheim Zohar, Forbes.com, 1 May 2025
  • The food, elegant and plated with conviction, has shades of both French and Italian influences, and the wine list is among the best in the Queen City.
    Timothy DePeugh, Charlotte Observer, 1 May 2025
Adjective
  • The wedding started as an elaborate three-way ruse concocted by Wai-Tung, a gay Taiwanese American man; his white boyfriend, Simon (Mitchell Lichtenstein); and Wei-Wei, an undocumented Chinese immigrant.
    Justin Chang, New Yorker, 19 Apr. 2025
  • For opening night of Good Night, and Good Luck at Winter Garden Theatre in New York City on April 3, Lopez stunned in a strapless black gown with a plunging neckline with a lightly colored caftan cape that flowed down to an elaborate train.
    Kimberlee Speakman, People.com, 19 Apr. 2025

Cite this Entry

“Complex.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/complex. Accessed 5 May. 2025.

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