Merriam-Webster Logo
SINCE 1828
Menu
dictionary thesaurus

Thesaurus

complicated

adjective

Synonyms and Antonyms of complicated

1 having many parts or aspects that are usually interrelated
  • a complicated apparatus
Synonyms of complicated

baroque, byzantine, complex, complicate, convoluted, daedal, elaborate, intricate, involute, involved, knotty, labyrinthian, labyrinthine, sophisticated, tangled
Words Related to complicated

overcomplex, overcomplicated

composite, compound, heterogeneous, mixed, multibranched, multifaceted, multifarious, multipart, varied

challenging, difficult, tough

impenetrable, incomprehensible, inexplicable, Kafkaesque, unfathomable, unintelligible
Near Antonyms of complicated

oversimplified, simplified, simplistic

homogeneous, uniform, unvaried
Antonyms of complicated

noncomplex, noncomplicated, plain, simple, uncomplicated
2 made or done with great care or with much detail
  • complicated plans for redeveloping the riverfront that involve both the private and public sectors
Synonyms of complicated

complex, detailed, elaborate, fancy, intricate, involved, sophisticated
Words Related to complicated

elegant, exquisite, grand, magnificent, ornate, splendid

chichi, extravagant, exuberant, fancified, flamboyant, frilly, gimmicked (up), grandiose, ostentatious, overwrought, showy, souped-up

Byzantine, convoluted, involute, involuted, labyrinthian, labyrinthine
Near Antonyms of complicated

modest, plain, plain-Jane, plain-vanilla, uncomplicated

bald, bare, naked, unadorned, undecorated, unvarnished
Antonyms of complicated

no-frills, simple, unfancy, unsophisticated

Synonym Discussion of complicated

complex, complicated, intricate, involved, knotty 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
complicated applies to what offers great difficulty in understanding, solving, or explaining.
    • complicated legal procedures
intricate suggests such interlacing of parts as to make it nearly impossible to follow or grasp them separately.
    • an intricate web of deceit
involved implies extreme complication and often disorder.
    • a rambling, involved explanation
knotty suggests complication and entanglement that make solution or understanding improbable.
    • knotty ethical questions

Learn More about complicated

  1. See words that rhyme with complicated Dictionary: Definition of complicated Medical Dictionary: Definition of complicated Spanish Central: Translation of complicated Nglish: Translation of complicated for Spanish speakers Britannica English: Translation of complicated for Arabic speakers

Seen and Heard

What made you want to look up complicated? Please tell us where you read or heard it (including the quote, if possible).

show comments hide comments
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

WORD OF THE DAY

insuperable

Listen to the pronounciation of insuperable

incapable of being surmounted or overcome

Get Word of the Day daily email!

TRENDING NOW

  1. concentration camp Debate over detentions drives searches

  2. animus AOC discusses impeachment

  3. auspice Trump comments on North Korea rumors

SEE ALL
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

Words at Play
Ask the Editors
Word Games