complicating

verb

present participle of complicate
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

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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

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 Common issues complicating pregnancies are obesity, substance abuse, and depression or mental health problems. — Judy Stone, Forbes.com, 29 July 2026 Firefighting crews were making progress in trying to keep the blaze under control, but strong wind gusts were complicating those efforts. — Miguel MacIas, NPR, 27 July 2026 Further complicating the solar-cost shift debate was the issue of equity. — Velvet Wu july 27, Sacbee.com, 27 July 2026 Further complicating Jean’s situation, the jogger was recently laid off from her marketing job, and to save money had been forgoing her health insurance. — Lincoln Anderson, New York Daily News, 25 July 2026 Also complicating the definition of middle age is the fact that people are living longer. — Julie Beck, The Atlantic, 25 July 2026 His long-term future surely hovered as another complicating factor. — Cody Stavenhagen, New York Times, 22 July 2026 Coupled with concerns about job displacement, data center opposition is helping drive a negative view of AI across the US, further complicating the work of the companies developing cutting-edge models. — Lauren Morganbesser, semafor.com, 22 July 2026 Wong was cited more than 100 times in both the majority and dissenting opinions, further complicating its interpretation. — Claire Ke, Encyclopedia Britannica, 22 July 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for complicating
  1. intensifying
  2. deepening
  3. perplexing
  4. worsening
  5. embarrassing
  6. aggravating
  7. confusing
  8. entangling
Verb
  • Now, an intensifying war has again closed off significant access to Persian Gulf oil, reinjecting chaos into the market.
    — David Goldman, CNN Money, 21 July 2026
  • Johnson later identified Scholten by name in subsequent posts, intensifying the controversy.
    — Barnini Chakraborty, The Washington Examiner, 21 July 2026
Definition of intensifying
Verb
  • The corruption allegations and deepening political crisis in Puerto Rico have caught the attention of some federal legislators, who questioned whether federal funds are being appropriately used.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 21 July 2026
  • Instead of closing the door on his dream, Nolan pivoted to studying English literature at University College London, a decision he has since been credited with strengthening his screenwriting and deepening his understanding of language and metaphor.
    — Preston Fore, Fortune, 20 July 2026
Definition of deepening
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
Definition of perplexing
Verb
  • After coming into power, the Malian military junta expelled French forces from the country in 2022, citing protection of national sovereignty and a worsening security crisis.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 31 July 2026
  • The drop was driven by worsening infrastructure, softening housing and a high cost of living.
    — Jeff Kleinman, Miami Herald, 31 July 2026
Definition of worsening
Verb
  • The operation has brought a fuel crisis that is embarrassing the Kremlin more than four years after Russia’s all-out invasion of its neighbor.
    — Hanna Arhirova, Los Angeles Times, 29 July 2026
  • Kyiv’s forces have targeted Russian oil facilities, causing fuel shortages and embarrassing President Vladimir Putin.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 25 July 2026
Definition of embarrassing
Verb
  • This ensures your team can provide timely help to a client post purchase, rather than aggravating a situation.
    — Serenity Gibbons, Forbes.com, 21 July 2026
  • That number has remained stubbornly static, aggravating inhumane consequences of long-term homelessness.
    — Sana Noor Haq, CNN Money, 5 July 2026
Definition of aggravating
Verb
  • Physicians are alarmed, stressing that FDA licensing is crucial for guiding patients, as this decision risks confusing consumers about regulated versus unregulated treatments.
    — Joshua P. Cohen, Forbes.com, 2 Aug. 2026
  • The Seahawks and Eagles won Super Bowls by confusing teams from multiple alignments.
    — Paul Dehner Jr, New York Times, 1 Aug. 2026
Definition of confusing
Verb
  • As Bruno departs for Venice, desire persists across oceans, entangling a Spinozist professor and rival passions.
    — Marta Balaga, Variety, 17 July 2026
  • 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
Definition of entangling

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complicating
complication
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Cite this Entry

“Complicating.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/complicating. Accessed 4 Aug. 2026.

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Nglish: Translation of complicating for Spanish Speakers

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