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
Further complicating efforts to ensure a fair trial is the rhetoric swirling around Kirk’s death because of his political prominence.
—
Matthew Brown, Chicago Tribune, 4 Feb. 2026
But a longtime party member now running as an independent is complicating those plans.
—Marissa Martinez, NBC news, 4 Feb. 2026
There was another complicating factor to address on the Altman staff call.
—Jason Lloyd, New York Times, 4 Feb. 2026
More Americans are opting not to have kids, which is complicating traditional wealth and estate planning, experts said.
—Medora Lee, USA Today, 4 Feb. 2026
The high-tech arsenal left behind by America is now turbocharging insurgencies in the border region, and its complicating efforts by the US and Pakistan to exploit its vast mineral riches.
—Sophia Saifi, CNN Money, 3 Feb. 2026
For example, contract-to-contract employment may signal financial uncertainty to lenders, complicating homeownership for many educators.
—Andrew Spar, The Orlando Sentinel, 3 Feb. 2026
Armed groups, including the Tren de Aragua criminal network and pro-government collectives, still control large swaths of territory, challenging the authority of the interim government and complicating efforts to restore public security.
—Antonio María Delgado, Miami Herald, 3 Feb. 2026
Main roadways have improved, but City of Memphis Public Works Director Scott Morgan on Tuesday said the sleet that had frozen on top of the snow was complicating plowing efforts.
—Jack Armstrong, Memphis Commercial Appeal, 28 Jan. 2026
Matthew Brown, Chicago Tribune, 4 Feb. 2026
But a longtime party member now running as an independent is complicating those plans.
—Marissa Martinez, NBC news, 4 Feb. 2026
There was another complicating factor to address on the Altman staff call.
—Jason Lloyd, New York Times, 4 Feb. 2026
More Americans are opting not to have kids, which is complicating traditional wealth and estate planning, experts said.
—Medora Lee, USA Today, 4 Feb. 2026
The high-tech arsenal left behind by America is now turbocharging insurgencies in the border region, and its complicating efforts by the US and Pakistan to exploit its vast mineral riches.
—Sophia Saifi, CNN Money, 3 Feb. 2026
For example, contract-to-contract employment may signal financial uncertainty to lenders, complicating homeownership for many educators.
—Andrew Spar, The Orlando Sentinel, 3 Feb. 2026
Armed groups, including the Tren de Aragua criminal network and pro-government collectives, still control large swaths of territory, challenging the authority of the interim government and complicating efforts to restore public security.
—Antonio María Delgado, Miami Herald, 3 Feb. 2026
Main roadways have improved, but City of Memphis Public Works Director Scott Morgan on Tuesday said the sleet that had frozen on top of the snow was complicating plowing efforts.
—Jack Armstrong, Memphis Commercial Appeal, 28 Jan. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for complicating
Verb
-
The guidance was a sharp contrast to rival Novo Nordisk A/S, which warned investors Tuesday that its sales could drop as much as 13% this year on intensifying price competition in the weight loss market.—
Bloomberg Wire,
Dallas Morning News,
4 Feb. 2026
-
Declining advertising revenue and intensifying competition have pushed companies to accelerate cost-cutting moves and restructure plans across the industry.—
Suzy Khimm,
NBC news,
4 Feb. 2026
Verb
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Economic growth fueled by foreign borrowing created an illusion of stability that concealed deepening structural decay.—
Alejandro Reyes,
Washington Post,
3 Feb. 2026
-
The sherry ties everything together, deepening the fruit and caramel notes without overpowering.—
Kimberly Holland,
Southern Living,
2 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
The disjunction between the abstract composition and the notion of self-portraiture appeared perplexing in its own right; its inoperability only exacerbated the viewer’s frustration and redoubled the artist’s impish provocation.—
Ara H. Merjian,
Artforum,
1 Jan. 2026
-
Even more than the finished show, this eerie, perplexing multi-Gaga spectacle feels like a glimpse into her subconscious.—
Brian Hiatt,
Rolling Stone,
13 Nov. 2025
Verb
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Brin has committed $20 million to a new organization called Building a Better California, a political and policy effort aimed squarely at California’s worsening housing affordability problems, recent state disclosures show, as first reported by The New York Times.—
Nick Lichtenberg,
Fortune,
29 Jan. 2026
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The mills, for their part, cited crippling financial losses that were compounded by high borrowing costs and a worsening fuel deficit.—
Jasmin Malik Chua,
Sourcing Journal,
29 Jan. 2026
Verb
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An unwritten rule of the NBA, it is generally viewed as a sign of respect to run out the clock rather than risk embarrassing an opponent.—
Chris Biderman,
Sacbee.com,
31 Jan. 2026
-
Recently, Ryan spoke about the Beckham situation, the process of writing material as a mother without embarrassing her kids and her new goal of returning to the career trajectory of her pre-pregnant self in the near future.—
Deputy Entertainment,
Los Angeles Times,
28 Jan. 2026
Verb
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But in other parts of the city the presence of ICE was aggravating existing antipathy for local law enforcement.—
Ruby Cramer,
New Yorker,
23 Jan. 2026
-
Reaves is approaching the four-week point after aggravating his calf injury on Christmas Day.—
Assistant Sports Editor,
Los Angeles Times,
21 Jan. 2026
Verb
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Too many turnaround attempts see a CEO throwing spaghetti at the wall in the hopes something will work, further confusing the rank and file and sapping their confidence in management.—
Phil Wahba,
Fortune,
30 Jan. 2026
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One thing confusing some residents is snow emergency declarations and the residential street parking restrictions.—
Veronica Ortega,
CBS News,
26 Jan. 2026
Verb
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Yet the same fisheries that drive economic value also generate high levels of bycatch, entangling marine mammals, seabirds, sea turtles, and sharks in their operations.—
Melissa Cristina Márquez,
Forbes.com,
21 Jan. 2026
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The Clear Creek County Sheriff's Office is set to begin training deputies on the Grappler system, a pursuit intervention device that disables a suspect's vehicle by entangling its tires rather than forcing a crash.—
Spencer Wilson,
CBS News,
21 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Complicating.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/complicating. Accessed 6 Feb. 2026.
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