1
as in intensifying
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 deepening
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 complicating
Clements said the mistaken identification may have happened because the creature decomposed and lost its telltale shell before it was fossilized, complicating identification.
—
ABC News, 9 Apr. 2026
The autopsy attributed Patton’s cause of death to acute bacterial bronchopneumonia complicating an influenza A infection, with methadone use as a contributing factor.
—Kelly Davis, San Diego Union-Tribune, 7 Apr. 2026
The layout of these facilities is also cramped, complicating maintenance work.
—Sujita Sinha, Interesting Engineering, 6 Apr. 2026
Grandma sneakers have that kind of silent intelligence that solves a lot of fashion issues without complicating anything.
—Alex Sales, Glamour, 5 Apr. 2026
Further complicating the dynamics is Wilson’s prior romance with co-star Ciara Miller, Batula’s close friend.
—Armando Tinoco, Deadline, 31 Mar. 2026
As many as 20,000 Iranian civilians live on Kharg in ordinary times, complicating invasion planning.
—Nancy A. Youssef, The Atlantic, 31 Mar. 2026
Compared with other Western states, Arizona’s snowpack comes and goes much more quickly, complicating river flow forecasts.
—Shi En Kim, AZCentral.com, 31 Mar. 2026
Republicans are pushing to expand artificial intelligence infrastructure, but early divisions within the GOP are complicating efforts to streamline the data centers needed to support it.
—Rachel Schilke, The Washington Examiner, 29 Mar. 2026
ABC News, 9 Apr. 2026
The autopsy attributed Patton’s cause of death to acute bacterial bronchopneumonia complicating an influenza A infection, with methadone use as a contributing factor.
—Kelly Davis, San Diego Union-Tribune, 7 Apr. 2026
The layout of these facilities is also cramped, complicating maintenance work.
—Sujita Sinha, Interesting Engineering, 6 Apr. 2026
Grandma sneakers have that kind of silent intelligence that solves a lot of fashion issues without complicating anything.
—Alex Sales, Glamour, 5 Apr. 2026
Further complicating the dynamics is Wilson’s prior romance with co-star Ciara Miller, Batula’s close friend.
—Armando Tinoco, Deadline, 31 Mar. 2026
As many as 20,000 Iranian civilians live on Kharg in ordinary times, complicating invasion planning.
—Nancy A. Youssef, The Atlantic, 31 Mar. 2026
Compared with other Western states, Arizona’s snowpack comes and goes much more quickly, complicating river flow forecasts.
—Shi En Kim, AZCentral.com, 31 Mar. 2026
Republicans are pushing to expand artificial intelligence infrastructure, but early divisions within the GOP are complicating efforts to streamline the data centers needed to support it.
—Rachel Schilke, The Washington Examiner, 29 Mar. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for complicating
Verb
-
The people were lodging complaints about the government's intensifying crackdown on the internet that has seen regular shutdowns of cellphone internet connections, blocked popular messaging apps and cut access to thousands of other websites and digital services.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
9 Apr. 2026
-
Get ready to hear a lot more about El Niño during the next several months — and maybe even longer — as the infamous climate cycle returns again, developing and intensifying in the Pacific Ocean near the equator.—
Andrew Freedman,
CNN Money,
7 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor is reportedly in no rush to leave his temporary home, deepening frustrations for his brother, King Charles III.—
Stephanie Nolasco , Ashley Papa,
FOXNews.com,
7 Apr. 2026
-
Each movement revealed a little more, deepening the intrigue of what lay beneath the surface.—
Ashley Vega,
PEOPLE,
6 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
That none of this has ever been clear to Gisèle is perplexing even to her.—
Sophie Gilbert,
The Atlantic,
20 Feb. 2026
-
While initially perplexing to the Messers and other anglers, some now believe this was part of Phillips’ long con.—
Dac Collins,
Outdoor Life,
19 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
This also might be an opportunity to express your concern about his worsening drinking and ask him to get help.—
Eric Thomas,
Sun Sentinel,
3 Apr. 2026
-
But with one-fifth of the world’s oil supply still largely bottled up in the Persian Gulf, which provides more than 80% of Asia’s energy supplies, shortages are worsening and getting hard to stave off with contingency measures.—
Jason Ma,
Fortune,
3 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
And when that happens, Jamahl Mosley — a good coach and an even better man — will be the fall guy for a team that is embarrassing itself on a national scale and getting exposed in the league standings.—
Mike Bianchi,
The Orlando Sentinel,
2 Apr. 2026
-
Harbaugh has taken a blow torch to the Giants’ embarrassing special teams unit.—
Pat Leonard,
New York Daily News,
25 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
My ila facial was pure joy—no painful extraction or aggravating scrubs here.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
30 Mar. 2026
-
There might be more than one bench spot to be won on the opening-day roster, as infielder Sung-Mun Song has not swung a bat since aggravating a right oblique strain on Sunday.—
Kevin Acee,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
11 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
As if that wasn’t confusing enough, not all Christians agree on what day of the calendar that specific Sunday is.—
Manon Bischoff,
Scientific American,
4 Apr. 2026
-
However, following the path of Artemis II may be confusing as the astronauts, mission control and others use confusing jargon and phrases.—
ByMary Kekatos,
ABC News,
2 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
The causes were entangling secret alliances, the assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand and the ensuing diplomatic brinksmanship.—
Voice of the People,
New York Daily News,
18 Mar. 2026
-
Last year’s dead leaves and branches, still not cleared away, lay on the ground, entangling our feet.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
13 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Complicating.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/complicating. Accessed 10 Apr. 2026.
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