COMPLICATES Synonyms: 44 Similar and Opposite Words

complicates

verb

present tense third-person singular of complicate

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

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 Spanish centre-back Asencio suffered a muscle injury last week that will keep him out of action for at least a month, which complicates any potential move. — Chris Weatherspoon, New York Times, 5 Aug. 2026 This development complicates Barcelona's pursuit, especially given their ongoing financial fair play constraints. — Tom Sanderson, Forbes.com, 2 Aug. 2026 Why Iran's power structure complicates a ceasefire Attacks on commercial shipping could become an early test of Iran's wartime balance of power. — Emma Graham, CNBC, 1 Aug. 2026 But although technological change complicates the goal of recycling EVs to build new ones, this model shows that the math could work out pretty well for many materials. — Scott K. Johnson, ArsTechnica, 31 July 2026 At Aeon Mall in Kashima, a gas explosion and collapsed upper floor killed shoppers and workers, trapping others as sweltering heat complicates painstaking searches for the missing. — Mari Yamaguchi, Los Angeles Times, 29 July 2026 With many more similar deep subsurface ecosystems existing around the world, the study findings complicates our understanding of carbon sequestration. — Andrew Paul, Popular Science, 29 July 2026 Battery storage further complicates the solar incentives battle. — Velvet Wu july 27, Sacbee.com, 27 July 2026 Aggregate economic data complicates the flight narrative further. — Nick Lichtenberg, Fortune, 27 July 2026

Recent Examples of Synonyms for complicates

Verb

This move intensifies existing rivalries, notably with the Boston Celtics following the Jaylen Brown trade.

— Bryan Toporek, Forbes.com, 31 July 2026
The president addressed a smaller, heavily secured gathering Friday as his administration intensifies its legal and rhetorical attacks on journalists.

— Michael Birnbaum, Washington Post, 24 July 2026

Definition of intensifies

Verb

Graft inquiry embarrasses Zelensky Ukraine’s National Anti-Corruption Bureau and the Specialized Anti-Corruption Prosecutor’s Office said in a Telegram announcement that the investigation into Yermak is ongoing.

— Hanna Arhirova, Los Angeles Times, 12 May 2026
Now the technology embarrasses an umpire even more than a player could, and what’s the recourse?

— Jim Alexander, Oc Register, 4 Apr. 2026

Definition of embarrasses

Verb

But when Dusty takes a tumble and aggravates his old wrist injury, that puts him out of the running.

— David Rooney, HollywoodReporter, 21 July 2026
The minuscule particles can lead to breathing problems like bronchitis and cause inflammation that aggravates diabetes, heart disease and other health conditions.

— Dakota Smith, CNN Money, 14 July 2026

Definition of aggravates

Verb

These opportunists drown out the core mission, creating a cacophony of competing voices that confuses donors, crowd the inboxes of CEOs and members of Congress with colliding petitions, and paralyzes meaningful action by draining critical funding and attention away from the truly effective groups.

— Jeffrey Sonnenfeld, Time, 28 June 2026
But nobody confuses Harvard Extension School classes with the real thing.

— Liz Hoffman, semafor.com, 23 June 2026