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
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Recent Examples of complicates
War complicates the domestic front, turning any dissent into treason.
—
Mohammed Sergie, semafor.com, 15 June 2026
This complicates the story that weight-loss marketing is often offering to consumers.
—Virgie Tovar, Forbes.com, 14 June 2026
The Healys go through the everyday motions until Frankie complicates her relationship with Jo (Mickey Hanano Skinner) by catching the eye of handsome new boy Phoenix (Mario Houle).
—Charles Lewis Iii, Mercury News, 12 June 2026
Even though Jones has never truly played like a first-round pick and is now recovering from a neck injury that complicates his future, the depth of this class (which was always seen as the strength) is being reinforced by the team’s decision to lock up many of these players to long-term deals.
—Mike Defabo, New York Times, 10 June 2026
And yet the federalist structure of our government — largely giving states the power to determine their own fates — complicates that idea.
—The Editorial Board, Chicago Tribune, 9 June 2026
There's also a real risk of losing income or savings if a judgment is issued against you, which further complicates the issue.
—Angelica Leicht, CBS News, 8 June 2026
Chronic pulmonary fibrosis is an incurable lung condition where scarring of the lung tissue complicates breathing, per People.
—Rachel Burchfield, InStyle, 5 June 2026
But the arrival of Adam — Moon's former costar and Stevie's crush — complicates their family situation even further.
—Carly Tagen-Dye, PEOPLE, 3 June 2026
Mohammed Sergie, semafor.com, 15 June 2026
This complicates the story that weight-loss marketing is often offering to consumers.
—Virgie Tovar, Forbes.com, 14 June 2026
The Healys go through the everyday motions until Frankie complicates her relationship with Jo (Mickey Hanano Skinner) by catching the eye of handsome new boy Phoenix (Mario Houle).
—Charles Lewis Iii, Mercury News, 12 June 2026
Even though Jones has never truly played like a first-round pick and is now recovering from a neck injury that complicates his future, the depth of this class (which was always seen as the strength) is being reinforced by the team’s decision to lock up many of these players to long-term deals.
—Mike Defabo, New York Times, 10 June 2026
And yet the federalist structure of our government — largely giving states the power to determine their own fates — complicates that idea.
—The Editorial Board, Chicago Tribune, 9 June 2026
There's also a real risk of losing income or savings if a judgment is issued against you, which further complicates the issue.
—Angelica Leicht, CBS News, 8 June 2026
Chronic pulmonary fibrosis is an incurable lung condition where scarring of the lung tissue complicates breathing, per People.
—Rachel Burchfield, InStyle, 5 June 2026
But the arrival of Adam — Moon's former costar and Stevie's crush — complicates their family situation even further.
—Carly Tagen-Dye, PEOPLE, 3 June 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for complicates
Verb
-
Still, as the day unfolds, the sun's alignment to Pluto intensifies deeper fears around control, recognition and power.—
Valerie Mesa,
PEOPLE,
10 June 2026
-
As competition intensifies across the AI industry, Anthropic is betting that powerful models do not have to arrive without safeguards.—
Aamir Khollam,
Interesting Engineering,
9 June 2026
Verb
-
The decision deepens a legal split rather than settling it.—
Jacqueline Munis,
Fortune,
10 June 2026
-
Additionally, laughter is known to boost oxytocin, which deepens emotional bonds between parents and children.—
Khloe Quill,
FOXNews.com,
7 June 2026
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
-
But the stunt goes south as Wooley turns out to be an unabashed bigot who embarrasses the show and gets scolded by the host.—
Erik Pedersen,
Deadline,
31 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Mercury aggravates Jupiter, intensifying your vulnerability in creative or romantic situations.—
USA TODAY,
USA Today,
26 Apr. 2026
-
Opening all the windows (necessary, given that the hottest boiler in all of Brooklyn is still turned on in your building) only aggravates your cough.—
R. A. E. Wells,
New Yorker,
22 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
This degree of identification perplexes the director.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
20 Nov. 2025
-
The arrangement sometimes perplexes friends who struggle to understand how divorced people can continue to cooperate and coordinate schedules.—
The Washington Post,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
23 Aug. 2025
Verb
-
Heat and moisture accumulate around the leaves, stems, and roots of plants, and supplementing soil with acetate exacerbates the risk of microbial contamination.—
Derek Norman,
Forbes.com,
11 June 2026
-
As Mercury and Saturn clash, assuming the worst exacerbates an imaginary problem.—
USA TODAY,
USA Today,
10 June 2026
Verb
-
There is a version of leadership that confuses visibility with impact, equating big initiatives and dramatic turnarounds with strong leadership.—
Monica Cutia,
Forbes.com,
11 June 2026
-
The whole concept of toxic fandom confuses me because, outside of the anger and backwards thinking, because who cares about a movie franchise that much?—
Mikey O'Connell,
HollywoodReporter,
4 June 2026
Verb
-
The problem only worsens when credit cards come into the mix, bringing interest and hard-to-tackle debt along with them.—
Matt Richardson,
CBS News,
2 Dec. 2025
-
Parkinson’s disease is a movement disorder of the nervous system that worsens over time, according to the Mayo Clinic.—
Desiree Anello,
PEOPLE,
30 Nov. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Complicates.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/complicates. Accessed 18 Jun. 2026.
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