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
Sarandon brings a welcome unpredictability to Sylvia, complicating a character who might otherwise have curdled into cliche.
—
Natalia Winkelman, Variety, 16 June 2026
That period was marred by thousands of disappearances and deaths, shaping Lebanese distrust and complicating feelings toward Syria.
—Zeena Saifi, CNN Money, 16 June 2026
Israeli strikes targeting Hezbollah in Lebanon are complicating ongoing diplomatic efforts to end the Iran war.
—Christopher Cann, USA Today, 16 June 2026
But newer research is complicating that simple prescription, with some studies showing real symptom relief and others finding no measurable benefit at all.
—Samantha Agate, Sacbee.com, 15 June 2026
And while the solution isn’t complicated, many are complicating it with the use of fiber candy and supplements.
—Ryan Brennan, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 13 June 2026
Wind and warm weather were complicating firefighting efforts.
—Cecilio Padilla, CBS News, 10 June 2026
However, the complicating factor is transportation within the country, as classic Bolivia itineraries often involve long travel days between destinations, many of them by road.
—Bailey Berg, Condé Nast Traveler, 10 June 2026
Further complicating matters is the rise of streaming.
—Bobby Burack Outkick, FOXNews.com, 10 June 2026
Natalia Winkelman, Variety, 16 June 2026
That period was marred by thousands of disappearances and deaths, shaping Lebanese distrust and complicating feelings toward Syria.
—Zeena Saifi, CNN Money, 16 June 2026
Israeli strikes targeting Hezbollah in Lebanon are complicating ongoing diplomatic efforts to end the Iran war.
—Christopher Cann, USA Today, 16 June 2026
But newer research is complicating that simple prescription, with some studies showing real symptom relief and others finding no measurable benefit at all.
—Samantha Agate, Sacbee.com, 15 June 2026
And while the solution isn’t complicated, many are complicating it with the use of fiber candy and supplements.
—Ryan Brennan, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 13 June 2026
Wind and warm weather were complicating firefighting efforts.
—Cecilio Padilla, CBS News, 10 June 2026
However, the complicating factor is transportation within the country, as classic Bolivia itineraries often involve long travel days between destinations, many of them by road.
—Bailey Berg, Condé Nast Traveler, 10 June 2026
Further complicating matters is the rise of streaming.
—Bobby Burack Outkick, FOXNews.com, 10 June 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for complicating
Verb
-
At the same time, the pace of technological change is accelerating, and global competition is intensifying.—
Rachel Nuwer,
Scientific American,
16 June 2026
-
The upward pressure is intensifying this week as derivatives and other kinds of secondary financial instruments related to SpaceX go live.—
Tobias Burns,
CNBC,
16 June 2026
Verb
-
The new ordinance, written by the Department of City Planning, prohibits new oil and gas extraction, including drilling, redrilling or deepening existing oil wells for the purposes of production.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
23 June 2026
-
Far from diversifying away from China, Europe is deepening its dependencies.—
Andy Browne,
semafor.com,
23 June 2026
Verb
-
But there were also perplexing moments that punctured the gravitas of the event (even for an event built around hand-to-hand combat).—
Alex Weprin,
HollywoodReporter,
15 June 2026
-
That none of this has ever been clear to Gisèle is perplexing even to her.—
Sophie Gilbert,
The Atlantic,
20 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
This affordability crisis disproportionately impacts Black women, with 90% reporting worsening economic conditions and incomes not keeping pace.—
Aisha Nyandoro,
Forbes.com,
19 June 2026
-
Lower inventory leads to fewer sales, worsening their standing with automakers.—
Byron Hurd,
The Drive,
18 June 2026
Verb
-
Then to Sydney Harbour, the very scene of that embarrassing capsize exactly a year earlier, and the Americans won the event outright for a first win since October 2023.—
Andrew Rice,
New York Times,
29 May 2026
-
Lutnick's voluntary closed-door interview comes amid a monthslong procession of powerful people summoned before the committee, many of whom have been subjected to embarrassing revelations in the more than 3 million pages of records known as the Epstein files.—
Graham Kates,
CBS News,
6 May 2026
Verb
-
He was removed from last Sunday’s game against the Mets after aggravating his hamstring running out a single.—
Kevin Acee,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
14 June 2026
-
Koeninger, a Tennessee signee, was noticeably missing from the batting order after aggravating a left-hand injury last week.—
Darren Lauber,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
6 June 2026
Verb
-
The most common mistake is confusing more communication with a better signal.—
Gerald J. Leonard,
Forbes.com,
19 June 2026
-
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution’s investigation of the alternative medicine industry uncovered a pattern of practitioners across Georgia pushing legal limits on what they’re allowed to do and presenting confusing information about their credentials.—
Carrie Teegardin,
AJC.com,
17 June 2026
Verb
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When that quantum task involved entangling qubits, quantum computers had an advantage over classical computers, as the classical program took ages to run.—
Quanta Magazine,
Quanta Magazine,
3 June 2026
-
The rest — bottles, cups, ties, get washed into our oceans, entangling sea birds and when they get pulverized into microplastics, they’re eaten by sea turtles who often die.—
Steve Scauzillo,
Daily News,
18 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Complicating.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/complicating. Accessed 25 Jun. 2026.
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