1
as in intensifies
to make complex or difficult
the need to go to both a PTA conference and condo board meeting really complicates tonight's schedule
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in deepens
to make more severe
asthma that has recently been complicated by a bout of bronchitis
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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 complicates
Other data, however, complicates the picture.
—
Jason Mastrodonato, Mercury News, 6 Jan. 2026
Sentimental Value, an emotionally layered film up for eight Golden Globes this weekend, complicates that perspective.
—Shirley Li, The Atlantic, 5 Jan. 2026
That complicates the Economics 101 understanding of interest rates.
—Eva Roytburg, Fortune, 5 Jan. 2026
The disease complicates his deadly profession and his life as a low-key family man.
—Los Angeles Times, 2 Jan. 2026
Additionally, the character is subject to multiple trademarks, which further complicates its use.
—Leo Rocha, CBS News, 1 Jan. 2026
One thing the fashion business is known for is variety, but this plethora of products complicates manufacturers’ packing processes.
—Sarah Jones, Sourcing Journal, 26 Dec. 2025
Mental illness also often complicates addiction issues and requires separate treatment.
—Cara Lynn Shultz, PEOPLE, 20 Dec. 2025
That multiyear effort is just one example of how the vast web of companies that generate power, transmit it from power plants to communities, and distribute it to homes and businesses complicates attempts to make changes to the power grid.
—Barbara Kates-Garnick, The Conversation, 17 Dec. 2025
Jason Mastrodonato, Mercury News, 6 Jan. 2026
Sentimental Value, an emotionally layered film up for eight Golden Globes this weekend, complicates that perspective.
—Shirley Li, The Atlantic, 5 Jan. 2026
That complicates the Economics 101 understanding of interest rates.
—Eva Roytburg, Fortune, 5 Jan. 2026
The disease complicates his deadly profession and his life as a low-key family man.
—Los Angeles Times, 2 Jan. 2026
Additionally, the character is subject to multiple trademarks, which further complicates its use.
—Leo Rocha, CBS News, 1 Jan. 2026
One thing the fashion business is known for is variety, but this plethora of products complicates manufacturers’ packing processes.
—Sarah Jones, Sourcing Journal, 26 Dec. 2025
Mental illness also often complicates addiction issues and requires separate treatment.
—Cara Lynn Shultz, PEOPLE, 20 Dec. 2025
That multiyear effort is just one example of how the vast web of companies that generate power, transmit it from power plants to communities, and distribute it to homes and businesses complicates attempts to make changes to the power grid.
—Barbara Kates-Garnick, The Conversation, 17 Dec. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for complicates
Verb
-
Unfortunately for the squeamish 12-year-old me, the lifelike fluidity intensifies the story’s body-horror elements.—
The Atlantic Culture Desk,
The Atlantic,
29 Oct. 2025
-
The danger intensifies when storm surge coincides with high tide, rapidly elevating water levels and increasing the risk of widespread flooding.—
Hannah Parry,
MSNBC Newsweek,
27 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
The film follows poets Andrea Gibson and Megan Falley as their love deepens, and the couple finds newfound appreciation for the preciousness of life after a terminal illness diagnosis.—
Addie Morfoot,
Variety,
5 Nov. 2025
-
So the Barbra connection deepens and deepens.—
Joe Lynch,
Billboard,
5 Nov. 2025
Verb
-
Maia and her boyfriend Dylan (Josh Hustcherson) are on the outs after Maia completely embarrasses herself at Dylan’s game night with his co-workers.—
Katie Campione,
Deadline,
21 Dec. 2025
-
There, the father of the bride gets too drunk and embarrasses himself.—
Randall Colburn,
Entertainment Weekly,
1 Dec. 2025
Verb
-
Money could be at the heart of the power struggle when Mars aggravates Pluto.—
USA TODAY,
USA Today,
24 Sep. 2025
-
The minuscule particles can lead to breathing problems like bronchitis and cause inflammation that aggravates diabetes, heart disease and other health conditions.—
Mary Gilbert,
CNN Money,
5 Aug. 2025
Verb
-
But the unknown in that equation is what perplexes the Mavericks and has the team stuck for now.—
Tim Cowlishaw,
Dallas Morning News,
1 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
The film begins with marital and financial stressors and exacerbates them with the influence of predatory external forces.—
Alan Bradley,
Space.com,
8 Nov. 2025
-
The fact that a cash-poor NASA is trying to juggle two human space flight programs—the station and moon-Mars—only exacerbates the funding problem.—
Jeffrey Kluger,
Time,
31 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
The Longhorns’ roster build confuses me.—
The Athletic College Basketball Staff,
New York Times,
3 Nov. 2025
-
At her spring show, Marie-Adam Leenaerdt brought back the style, but her shiny spandex stocking version ensures no one confuses the look for child’s play.—
Laia Garcia-Furtado,
Vogue,
30 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
Sam slips back into her addiction and as her alcoholism worsens, so do the visions and apparitions that seem to be haunting the forest.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
6 Jan. 2026
-
As climate change worsens, more locations are going to become too hot for data centers.—
Devika Rao,
TheWeek,
5 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Complicates.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/complicates. Accessed 8 Jan. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share