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
Military life, with its relocations and uncertainties, often complicates access to consistent care.
—
Connie Etemadi, USA Today, 29 Aug. 2025
Meanwhile, in Central Asia, banks collaborate easily with e-commerce and telecom companies to create seamless customer experiences, a practice that GDPR often complicates in Europe.
—Yerik Aubakirov, Forbes.com, 29 Aug. 2025
As the expiration of the 2015 nuclear deal approaches in October, Iran's pledge to continue enriching uranium raises the risk of nuclear proliferation, complicates diplomacy with the West, and leaves the door open for a broader military conflict.
—Amira El-Fekki, MSNBC Newsweek, 26 Aug. 2025
Connecticut’s unexpected winning streak The future of the Connecticut Sun is in flux, with the Mohegan Tribe ownership attempting to sell the team while the WNBA complicates any attempted relocation.
—Sabreena Merchant, New York Times, 25 Aug. 2025
Beasts of No Nation also complicates our impulse to identify with the central character.
—Katie Kitamura
august 21, Literary Hub, 21 Aug. 2025
This complicates the situation.
—David Brennan, ABC News, 17 Aug. 2025
Her being a MacKenzie complicates her romance with Brian, as their families are longtime enemies.
—EW.com, 8 Aug. 2025
This complicates things for Nan.
—Dessi Gomez, Deadline, 6 Aug. 2025
Connie Etemadi, USA Today, 29 Aug. 2025
Meanwhile, in Central Asia, banks collaborate easily with e-commerce and telecom companies to create seamless customer experiences, a practice that GDPR often complicates in Europe.
—Yerik Aubakirov, Forbes.com, 29 Aug. 2025
As the expiration of the 2015 nuclear deal approaches in October, Iran's pledge to continue enriching uranium raises the risk of nuclear proliferation, complicates diplomacy with the West, and leaves the door open for a broader military conflict.
—Amira El-Fekki, MSNBC Newsweek, 26 Aug. 2025
Connecticut’s unexpected winning streak The future of the Connecticut Sun is in flux, with the Mohegan Tribe ownership attempting to sell the team while the WNBA complicates any attempted relocation.
—Sabreena Merchant, New York Times, 25 Aug. 2025
Beasts of No Nation also complicates our impulse to identify with the central character.
—Katie Kitamura
august 21, Literary Hub, 21 Aug. 2025
This complicates the situation.
—David Brennan, ABC News, 17 Aug. 2025
Her being a MacKenzie complicates her romance with Brian, as their families are longtime enemies.
—EW.com, 8 Aug. 2025
This complicates things for Nan.
—Dessi Gomez, Deadline, 6 Aug. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for complicates
Verb
-
Trump has been unable to follow through on his promises to apply economic sanctions as Putin intensifies his attacks on civilians in Ukraine, Boyechko added.—
Brendan Cole,
MSNBC Newsweek,
2 Sep. 2025
-
The decision to strip away all context intensifies its emotional weight, transforming silence into an overwhelming presence.—
Cecilia Rodriguez,
Forbes.com,
29 Aug. 2025
Verb
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America’s retreat from WHO deepens the damage by weakening global systems for monitoring outbreaks, reviewing evidence and maintaining databases such as the Global Burden of Disease.—
Stan Chu Ilo,
Chicago Tribune,
3 Sep. 2025
-
Meanwhile, Sylvia’s relationship with Carabinieri captain Giovanni Riva deepens, but the finalization of Riva’s divorce and his desire to set down roots in Umbria threatens Sylvia’s sense of independence.—
Peter White,
Deadline,
3 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
Words may hit all the wrong notes when the moon aggravates Chiron today.—
USA TODAY,
USA Today,
20 Aug. 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
-
Registered psychologists Tammy Schamuhn and Tania Johnson, who co-founded The Institute of Child Psychology, argued that homework after school only exacerbates the problem.—
Ryan Brennan,
Miami Herald,
3 Sep. 2025
-
Aside from a changing climate, water managers say the inability to store water in upstream reservoirs due to compact obligations exacerbates the problem.—
Preston Fore,
Fortune,
30 Aug. 2025
Verb
-
And so an urban tunnel not only blocks some satellites, but confuses the listeners as to which are direct or reflected signals.—
Steve Tengler,
Forbes.com,
3 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
As her condition worsens, her fiancé’s brooding cousin becomes an unwilling participant in the evil forces tormenting her.—
Clare Mulroy,
USA Today,
31 Aug. 2025
-
Allen noted that summer heat worsens the effect.—
Aamir Khollam,
Interesting Engineering,
29 Aug. 2025
Verb
-
Now, even if the AL and NL were to stay, realignment is going to have to happen anyway once MLB expands to 32 teams.—
Mac Cerullo,
Boston Herald,
7 Sep. 2025
-
The film expands on the novel Stabat Mater by Tiziano Scarpa, which in turn is based on the real life of Vivaldi who was a Roman Catholic priest and taught at the Ospedale della Pietà for almost 30 years.—
Melanie Goodfellow,
Deadline,
7 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Complicates.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/complicates. Accessed 9 Sep. 2025.
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