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
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of complicating
The response unfolds in a region long threatened by armed groups that have kept a large part of the population on the run and control a major city where Ebola cases have been confirmed, complicating health workers’ catch-up efforts to trace the outbreak.
—
Justin Kabumba, Los Angeles Times, 20 May 2026
There is a complicating factor.
—Adam Kovac, Scientific American, 20 May 2026
On land, brokers report strikes landing near — and in some cases on — data centers and manufacturing facilities, complicating claims under both property and cyber policies.
—Contessa Brewer,dawn Giel, CNBC, 19 May 2026
In addition to their lack of vaccines, some of the Indigenous suffered from malnutrition and other complicating factors for measles, the health officials said.
—Mary Beth Sheridan, CNN Money, 17 May 2026
That happens simply because Earth revolves, but the planets also move across the sky, further complicating things.
—Jamie Carter, Space.com, 15 May 2026
That would add a complicating layer.
—Amy Panos, Better Homes & Gardens, 15 May 2026
In those systems, atoms can leak into non-computational states or be lost entirely, complicating the syndrome patterns that a decoder must interpret.
—Karl Freund, Forbes.com, 14 May 2026
The Canucks, however, have had a habit of complicating the relationship of fans with various franchise legends.
—Thomas Drance, New York Times, 12 May 2026
Justin Kabumba, Los Angeles Times, 20 May 2026
There is a complicating factor.
—Adam Kovac, Scientific American, 20 May 2026
On land, brokers report strikes landing near — and in some cases on — data centers and manufacturing facilities, complicating claims under both property and cyber policies.
—Contessa Brewer,dawn Giel, CNBC, 19 May 2026
In addition to their lack of vaccines, some of the Indigenous suffered from malnutrition and other complicating factors for measles, the health officials said.
—Mary Beth Sheridan, CNN Money, 17 May 2026
That happens simply because Earth revolves, but the planets also move across the sky, further complicating things.
—Jamie Carter, Space.com, 15 May 2026
That would add a complicating layer.
—Amy Panos, Better Homes & Gardens, 15 May 2026
In those systems, atoms can leak into non-computational states or be lost entirely, complicating the syndrome patterns that a decoder must interpret.
—Karl Freund, Forbes.com, 14 May 2026
The Canucks, however, have had a habit of complicating the relationship of fans with various franchise legends.
—Thomas Drance, New York Times, 12 May 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for complicating
Verb
-
The funding round came amid intensifying competition from major players like Microsoft and Amazon, as well as a wave of AI-native startups including fellow 2026 Disruptor Perplexity.—
Michelle Castillo,
CNBC,
19 May 2026
-
There’s concern that the amount of water needed to cool Stratos facilities could further drain the Great Salt Lake, intensifying exposure to toxic sediments in the rapidly shrinking watershed.—
Mary Jane Gibson,
Rolling Stone,
17 May 2026
Verb
-
The operator of the third-busiest cargo port in the United States has agreed to invest $8 million or more for a feasibility study into deepening and widening the 33-mile-long shipping channel.—
Adam Van Brimmer,
AJC.com,
19 May 2026
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In a stunning rebuke, the Board of Governors rejected his appointment, forcing UF to restart the search and deepening concerns among faculty and alumni that ideological alignment now outweighs academic credentials in Florida university leadership.—
Garrett Shanley,
Miami Herald,
18 May 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
-
Yields had been down Friday morning, offering some relief, before wavering after oil prices erased their losses and the survey on consumer sentiment showed worsening inflation expectations.—
Stan Choe,
Los Angeles Times,
22 May 2026
-
In the weeks since the meeting, several officials have warned about the worsening inflation outlook as the Strait of Hormuz has remained effectively blocked and bond yields have soared.—
Bloomberg,
Oc Register,
20 May 2026
Verb
-
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
-
The Game 4 defeat – the no-silver-lining, embarrassing 6-1 loss – left a particularly rancid taste in everyone’s mouth.—
Steve Conroy,
Boston Herald,
30 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
The House Democratic campaign arm’s endorsements in two competitive primaries are aggravating some in the party who see favoritism at work.—
Nicholas Wu,
semafor.com,
4 May 2026
-
Prosecutors cited Hunter’s past homicide convictions as aggravating factors to persuade the jury to recommend his execution.—
Cristóbal Reyes,
The Orlando Sentinel,
14 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Schoen’s contract extension is confusing at best.—
Pat Leonard,
New York Daily News,
22 May 2026
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Huxley’s critique is clear; America mistakes body for spirit, promiscuously confusing the physical with the metaphysical.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
21 May 2026
Verb
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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
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Impulsive action bypasses deliberation, ignores consequences and risks entangling our nation in conflicts without an exit strategy.—
Mercury News & East Bay Times Editorial Boards,
Mercury News,
7 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Complicating.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/complicating. Accessed 24 May. 2026.
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