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
Relevance
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
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of complicating
According to reports, various outside powers in the Middle East, Africa and further afield have provided military assistance to one or other of the rival sides, complicating efforts to end the conflict.
—
Robert Birsel
john Feng, MSNBC Newsweek, 2 Sep. 2025
Further complicating the process is the arrival of cheetahs imported from South Africa and Namibia to the Kuno Wildlife Sanctuary.
—Aishwarya S. Iyer, CNN Money, 31 Aug. 2025
Topline An inflation measurement favored by the Federal Reserve matched Wall Street’s expectations according to federal data released Friday, complicating hopes for the central bank to lower interest rates next month.
—Ty Roush, Forbes.com, 29 Aug. 2025
Trump’s tariffs have forced companies to quickly decide whether to absorb extra costs, pass them to consumers, or relocate manufacturing—complicating recovery just as supply chains had rebounded from COVID-19 disruptions.
—Sydney Lake, Fortune, 29 Aug. 2025
Further complicating the police's response to shootings is the fact 65% of them occurred inside homes, Norman said.
—David Clarey, jsonline.com, 28 Aug. 2025
Powell on Friday offered a cautious signal of potential interest rate cuts, stressing that high levels of uncertainty are complicating the central bank's policy decisions.
—Sean Conlon,lee Ying Shan, CNBC, 25 Aug. 2025
There was so much in the world already, so many problems that needed to be solved, without complicating things by reënacting what had already happened or was happening somewhere right now or might never happen.
—Rachel Cusk, New Yorker, 24 Aug. 2025
Further complicating the issue is that American Standard is owned by Lixil, a Japanese building materials and housing equipment manufacturer.
—Christopher Elliott, Mercury News, 21 Aug. 2025
Robert Birsel
john Feng, MSNBC Newsweek, 2 Sep. 2025
Further complicating the process is the arrival of cheetahs imported from South Africa and Namibia to the Kuno Wildlife Sanctuary.
—Aishwarya S. Iyer, CNN Money, 31 Aug. 2025
Topline An inflation measurement favored by the Federal Reserve matched Wall Street’s expectations according to federal data released Friday, complicating hopes for the central bank to lower interest rates next month.
—Ty Roush, Forbes.com, 29 Aug. 2025
Trump’s tariffs have forced companies to quickly decide whether to absorb extra costs, pass them to consumers, or relocate manufacturing—complicating recovery just as supply chains had rebounded from COVID-19 disruptions.
—Sydney Lake, Fortune, 29 Aug. 2025
Further complicating the police's response to shootings is the fact 65% of them occurred inside homes, Norman said.
—David Clarey, jsonline.com, 28 Aug. 2025
Powell on Friday offered a cautious signal of potential interest rate cuts, stressing that high levels of uncertainty are complicating the central bank's policy decisions.
—Sean Conlon,lee Ying Shan, CNBC, 25 Aug. 2025
There was so much in the world already, so many problems that needed to be solved, without complicating things by reënacting what had already happened or was happening somewhere right now or might never happen.
—Rachel Cusk, New Yorker, 24 Aug. 2025
Further complicating the issue is that American Standard is owned by Lixil, a Japanese building materials and housing equipment manufacturer.
—Christopher Elliott, Mercury News, 21 Aug. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for complicating
Verb
-
If fully earned, the award would materially increase Musk's voting power from his roughly 13% stake, intensifying debate over governance and succession.—
Akash Sriram,
USA Today,
5 Sep. 2025
-
But Tesla also faces intensifying competition from the big Detroit automakers and particularly from China.—
Michelle Chapman,
Chicago Tribune,
5 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
Europe stands united in expression of deep concerns and must commit to the deployment of ever-deepening concerns moving forward.—
Gabe Whisnant,
MSNBC Newsweek,
2 Sep. 2025
-
Beijing has been steadily deepening its presence in Brazil through investments in critical areas such as energy, agriculture and food security, defense, advanced technology, automobile manufacturing, a joint satellite program, and strategic infrastructure such as ports.—
HUSSEIN KALOUT,
Foreign Affairs,
2 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
The criminal justice system In early April, a man failed to show up for his pretrial conference in Canyon County, perplexing his lawyer.—
Idaho Statesman,
Idaho Statesman,
11 Aug. 2025
Verb
-
The National Park Service did not change its confine and contain strategy to reflect the worsening conditions and maintained that there was still no threat to public safety or developed areas.—
Stephanie Murray,
AZCentral.com,
28 Aug. 2025
-
Hidradenitis suppurativa tends to start after puberty and before age 40, persisting for many years and potentially worsening over time, according to Mayo Clinic.—
Angelica Stabile,
FOXNews.com,
28 Aug. 2025
Verb
-
If that wasn’t embarrassing enough, then came an ugly post-game brawl that has gone viral on social media all over the world.—
Michelle Kaufman,
Miami Herald,
3 Sep. 2025
-
Taking just the bare stats into consideration, Rooney's managerial career has been defined by a horrendously low win rate, but that is in addition to a spate of embarrassing off-field antics.—
Zak Garner-Purkis,
Forbes.com,
30 Aug. 2025
Verb
-
Cao faces one count of murder with eight allegations of aggravating factors, including his use of a knife, prosecutors said.—
Caelyn Pender,
Mercury News,
13 Aug. 2025
-
Just make sure that your hands are clean before applying it to avoid spreading bacteria and aggravating breakouts further.—
Jacqueline Kilikita,
Refinery29,
5 Aug. 2025
Verb
-
In such a large, complex, dangerous, and confusing world, can one person make a difference to anything?—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
3 Sep. 2025
-
These fictional AIs tapped into our deepest worries about healthcare—long waits at the doctor's office, confusing medical information and the wish for constant health guidance.—
Sanath Chilakala,
Forbes.com,
3 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
The new Netflix India original Saare Jahan Se Accha is the fictional story of the entangling worlds of various spies from India, Pakistan, Russia and America.—
Sweta Kaushal,
Forbes.com,
21 Aug. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Complicating.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/complicating. Accessed 9 Sep. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share