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

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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 Hyun-tae has long been convinced that romance only complicates life. — Naman Ramachandran, Variety, 21 Oct. 2026 Trump’s post outlining a clear plan for construction complicates a federal court hearing scheduled for Monday in a lawsuit filed by the DC Preservation League and two golfers opposing the construction. — ABC News, 18 Oct. 2026 Engineers have tried to contain them in porous supports or seal them in capsules, but these fixes usually limit the salt to under 70% of the material, and encapsulation complicates manufacturing. — New Atlas, 18 Oct. 2026 Miner added the district’s ongoing bus driver shortage complicates transportation planning. — Mary Ramsey october 17, Charlotte Observer, 17 Oct. 2026 This is exactly what complicates the production of alloys with predictable mechanical properties. — Georgina Jedikovska, Interesting Engineering, 16 Oct. 2026 Muse’s finance features JPMorgan’s move complicates the market strategy for AI agents meant to help with personal finances. — Joshua Hong, Fortune, 15 Oct. 2026 Another major injury the victim sustained before the possible stabbing supports this hypothesis—and complicates the story. — Andrew Paul, Popular Science, 15 Oct. 2026 September's inflation report complicates things for Kevin Warsh 's Federal Reserve . — Fred Imbert, CNBC, 14 Oct. 2026

Recent Examples of Synonyms for complicates

Verb

Forest and land fires in Indonesia have worsened this year as El Niño intensifies a prolonged dry season.

— ABC News, ABC News, 13 Oct. 2026
The warning was downgraded late Sunday night to an advisory, meaning residents should still be on high alert in the event that activity intensifies again.

— Austin Turner, CBS News, 11 Oct. 2026

Definition of intensifies

Verb

As Carson and Rapp’s search for Henry deepens, Yaga cuts a jagged (though, at this point, well-trod by shows like Hulu’s Furious or even Netflix’s East of Eden) path through themes of wealth, male entitlement, female rage and the purpose of myth.

— Angie Han, HollywoodReporter, 20 Oct. 2026
The split further deepens among male drinkers to 53 percent to 23 percent in favor of beer.

— New Atlas, New Atlas, 19 Oct. 2026

Definition of deepens

Verb

Or from locking up Mick Cronin through 2030, even though UCLA’s prickly basketball coach embarrasses the university annually and hasn’t reached a Sweet 16 since 2023.

— Mirjam Swanson, Los Angeles Times, 1 Sep. 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

First, substantial evidence indicates that the structure of our congressional elections exacerbates legislative underperformance.

— Scott Warren, Washington Post, 9 Oct. 2026
There’s a lot of misinformation that only exacerbates our culture urban-rural divide.

— Cynthia Littleton, Variety, 8 Oct. 2026

Definition of exacerbates

Verb

The legal system dehumanizes her, the support group confuses her, and one of her friends painfully disappoints her.

— Carey Purcell, Vogue, 2 Oct. 2026
This confuses each Nyota but also those around them, who note that the Nyotas have rather quickly assumed new hairstyles but also that neither is behaving quite like herself.

— Keith Phipps, Vulture, 24 Sep. 2026