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
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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
But Daylight Saving Time complicates that.
—
Juwayriah Wright, Time, 17 Feb. 2026
Abbington plays Eve, a sharp-witted, slightly off-kilter actress whose obsession with the case pulls her into the investigative orbit and complicates the group dynamic.
—Emiliano De Pablos, Variety, 16 Feb. 2026
The breadth of Epstein’s connections complicates Democrats’ effort to frame the scandal as a one-sided political liability.
—Samantha-Jo Roth, The Washington Examiner, 14 Feb. 2026
At 5,300 years old, any of those explanations complicates the conventional picture of how sophisticated Predynastic Egyptian material science actually was.
—Ryan Brennan, Kansas City Star, 13 Feb. 2026
Trump's more discretionary approach complicates that dynamic.
—Dewardric L. McNeal, CNBC, 13 Feb. 2026
The opening night loss to Hawaii Pacific really complicates things, as it is not factored into Boise’s metrics and should be acknowledged by the committee.
—Jim Root, New York Times, 13 Feb. 2026
Raman’s entry also complicates a relationship that, until recently, had been publicly aligned.
—Teresa Liu, Daily News, 11 Feb. 2026
The idea of paying kids for self-care somewhat complicates that picture.
—Hannah Nwoko, Parents, 7 Feb. 2026
Juwayriah Wright, Time, 17 Feb. 2026
Abbington plays Eve, a sharp-witted, slightly off-kilter actress whose obsession with the case pulls her into the investigative orbit and complicates the group dynamic.
—Emiliano De Pablos, Variety, 16 Feb. 2026
The breadth of Epstein’s connections complicates Democrats’ effort to frame the scandal as a one-sided political liability.
—Samantha-Jo Roth, The Washington Examiner, 14 Feb. 2026
At 5,300 years old, any of those explanations complicates the conventional picture of how sophisticated Predynastic Egyptian material science actually was.
—Ryan Brennan, Kansas City Star, 13 Feb. 2026
Trump's more discretionary approach complicates that dynamic.
—Dewardric L. McNeal, CNBC, 13 Feb. 2026
The opening night loss to Hawaii Pacific really complicates things, as it is not factored into Boise’s metrics and should be acknowledged by the committee.
—Jim Root, New York Times, 13 Feb. 2026
Raman’s entry also complicates a relationship that, until recently, had been publicly aligned.
—Teresa Liu, Daily News, 11 Feb. 2026
The idea of paying kids for self-care somewhat complicates that picture.
—Hannah Nwoko, Parents, 7 Feb. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for complicates
Verb
-
Driving a backup car after crashing in the Duels intensifies Byron’s challenge to three-peat.—
Edgar Thompson,
The Orlando Sentinel,
14 Feb. 2026
-
Nigerian energy companies have ramped up oil production over the past year as the government intensifies its efforts to restart dormant refineries and monetize untapped gas reserves.—
Alexander Onukwue,
semafor.com,
9 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
This overreliance deepens inequities and fuels resentment.—
Joe Ferguson,
Chicago Tribune,
11 Feb. 2026
-
Proper aging concentrates glutamic acid, boosts umami and deepens flavor.—
Shindy Chen
February 10,
Charlotte Observer,
10 Feb. 2026
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
-
In the extreme off-chance that Darnold doesn’t play or aggravates the injury, the Seahawks would call upon Drew Lock, who has just three regular season passing attempts on the year.—
Chris Biderman,
Sacbee.com,
16 Jan. 2026
-
Nathan tells him to get in the water in order to fix the hooks and ropes, but Max stands on the Jet Ski instead, which aggravates the bosun.—
Rafaela Bassili,
Vulture,
6 Jan. 2026
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 energy to make and ship the artificial snow also exacerbates the carbon footprint of the competitions that require snow, the climate experts said.—
Julia Jacobo,
ABC News,
4 Feb. 2026
-
But climate change is also becoming an unignorable concern in garment-producing regions as extreme weather exacerbates heat stress in factories and fuels humanitarian crises such as flooding and drought.—
Jasmin Malik Chua,
Sourcing Journal,
2 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
No one confuses kilowatt-hours with productivity, yet no serious economy flies blind without tracking them.—
Noosheen Hashemi,
Time,
26 Jan. 2026
-
Where the Roma obscured the line between a classic grand tourer and a sports car with supercar tendencies, the Amalfi confuses things further.—
Jonny Lieberman,
Robb Report,
17 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
Doctors monitor progression and severity of the disease by measuring the size of the left ventricle, the heart’s muscle that pumps blood to the body, which shrinks as the condition worsens.—
Helen Carefoot,
Flow Space,
5 Feb. 2026
-
Software stock slide worsens on AI fears US software stocks sank further Tuesday on swelling investor fears that new AI tools will eat their lunch.—
Alexander Onukwue,
semafor.com,
4 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Complicates.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/complicates. Accessed 18 Feb. 2026.
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