complicate 1 of 2

Definition of complicatenext
1
2
as in to deepen
to make more severe asthma that has recently been complicated by a bout of bronchitis

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

complicate

2 of 2

adjective

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 complicate
Verb
And withdrawal from 7-OH can last significantly longer than traditional opioid withdrawal — up to three months — a factor that complicates treatment and increases the risk of relapse, according to the International Society of Substance Use Professionals. Teri Sforza, Oc Register, 8 May 2026 Policy also has been complicated by the Iran war and tariffs. Jeff Cox, CNBC, 8 May 2026
Adjective
Families today are more anchored: two-income households complicate moves, aging demographics keep older homeowners in place, and many are locked into mortgage rates under 4%, unwilling to trade up into costlier loans. Brian Delp, Forbes.com, 9 Sep. 2025 The shift would send states scrambling and complicate parents’ efforts to get young children vaccinated ahead of the coming respiratory virus season. Alexis Simendinger, The Hill, 14 Aug. 2025 See All Example Sentences for complicate
Recent Examples of Synonyms for complicate
Verb
  • Renewable energy The global oil crisis has only deepened the desire by many countries to transition to clean energy, which could be a boon for the sector.
    Ivana Kottasová, CNN Money, 2 May 2026
  • Compared to other regions in the country, Dubrovnik could be harder hit if the fuel crisis deepens because of its location at the southern tip of Croatia’s Adriatic Sea coastline.
    Darko Bandic, Fortune, 2 May 2026
Adjective
  • Alabama faces a complicated situation due to years of litigation over its congressional districts.
    Joe Walsh, CBS News, 2 May 2026
  • Goldie, born Clifford Price in Walsall, England, in 1965, had a complicated childhood.
    Ben Cardew, Pitchfork, 2 May 2026
Verb
  • The shooting has also intensified calls by conservatives to fully fund DHS through a single bill — blaming Democrats for the shutdown and arguing that splitting apart ICE and Border Patrol funding will only give the minority party leverage.
    Mike Lillis, The Hill, 28 Apr. 2026
  • Instead, the slight thaw suggests a more modest agenda that the countries should now pursue, one that acknowledges that tensions between them over fundamental issues — trade, technology, global status — are more likely to intensify than abate.
    Andy Browne, semafor.com, 28 Apr. 2026
Verb
  • The scale and location of the development have drawn concern from some residents, who say the project could worsen traffic congestion and may not be affordable for middle-class families.
    Daniel Lempres, Sacbee.com, 28 Apr. 2026
  • Meanwhile, the global memory crisis has worsened, forcing tech giants to pay up for the capacity needed to satisfy their data center ambitions.
    Jordan Novet,Jonathan Vanian, CNBC, 28 Apr. 2026
Adjective
  • These jagged fins are so intricate — some thinner than a human hair — that standard manufacturing couldn’t touch them.
    Mrigakshi Dixit, Interesting Engineering, 8 May 2026
  • Her practice focuses on divorces involving intricate financial structures like hedge funds, private equity, and venture capital.
    Daniel Fusch, USA Today, 8 May 2026
Verb
  • Those involved may not want to push their expensive retro recreation to the limit but it is certainly got the potential to embarrass plenty of more modern machines.
    New Atlas, New Atlas, 8 May 2026
  • Lutnick's voluntary closed-door interview comes amid a monthslong procession of powerful people summoned before the committee, many of whom have been subjected to embarrassing revelations in the more than 3 million pages of records known as the Epstein files.
    Graham Kates, CBS News, 6 May 2026
Verb
  • The House Democratic campaign arm’s endorsements in two competitive primaries are aggravating some in the party who see favoritism at work.
    Nicholas Wu, semafor.com, 4 May 2026
  • The Midwest states, including Michigan, are further aggravated by production disruptions at the BP Whiting refinery in Indiana, De Haan said.
    Paula Wethington, CBS News, 1 May 2026
Adjective
  • Getting any small business off the ground is no small feat and breweries are complex creatures.
    Blaine Callahan, Hartford Courant, 9 May 2026
  • What was looking pretty easy, with Saturday morning rain and then Sunday afternoon to evening rain, has now become a little more complex.
    Ron Smiley, CBS News, 8 May 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Complicate.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/complicate. Accessed 10 May. 2026.

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