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
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Recent Examples of complicating
Relying on contractors, the union says, could create inconsistencies between airports if different companies operate checkpoints across the country, potentially complicating oversight of a system designed to maintain uniform national security standards.
—
Rio Yamat, Chicago Tribune, 11 Mar. 2026
But the war in Iran is complicating that calculus, as inflation worries persist and leave policymakers to balance competing risks.
—Allie Canal, NBC news, 11 Mar. 2026
Military conflict with Iran risks further complicating global cooperation on peaceful nuclear energy.
—John Kerry, semafor.com, 10 Mar. 2026
This week, Vogue spoke to Madden about moving from memoir to fiction, shadowing projectionists and gas station attendants to get a feel for her characters’ worlds, creating a mood board for her writing projects, and complicating our cultural understanding of abuse.
—Emma Specter, Vogue, 10 Mar. 2026
The conflict is driving up energy and fertilizer prices; threatening food shortages in poor countries; destabilizing fragile states such as Pakistan; and complicating options for the inflation fighters at central banks like the Federal Reserve.
—ABC News, 9 Mar. 2026
Less precise bombs could mean more civilian casualties, complicating the war and angering even Iranians who wanted a regime change.
—Chris Tye, CBS News, 4 Mar. 2026
Hunt, a Houston-area congressman and military veteran, entered the race later, complicating the anti-Paxton lane and reshaping the dynamics.
—Dante Motley, Austin American Statesman, 3 Mar. 2026
As the 9/11 Commission determined, Clinton had authorized lethal action against bin Laden only if he couldn’t be captured, thus complicating the missions and leaving the CIA uncertain as to whether the agency was being directed to kidnap bin Laden or eliminate him.
—Tim Naftali, The Atlantic, 3 Mar. 2026
Rio Yamat, Chicago Tribune, 11 Mar. 2026
But the war in Iran is complicating that calculus, as inflation worries persist and leave policymakers to balance competing risks.
—Allie Canal, NBC news, 11 Mar. 2026
Military conflict with Iran risks further complicating global cooperation on peaceful nuclear energy.
—John Kerry, semafor.com, 10 Mar. 2026
This week, Vogue spoke to Madden about moving from memoir to fiction, shadowing projectionists and gas station attendants to get a feel for her characters’ worlds, creating a mood board for her writing projects, and complicating our cultural understanding of abuse.
—Emma Specter, Vogue, 10 Mar. 2026
The conflict is driving up energy and fertilizer prices; threatening food shortages in poor countries; destabilizing fragile states such as Pakistan; and complicating options for the inflation fighters at central banks like the Federal Reserve.
—ABC News, 9 Mar. 2026
Less precise bombs could mean more civilian casualties, complicating the war and angering even Iranians who wanted a regime change.
—Chris Tye, CBS News, 4 Mar. 2026
Hunt, a Houston-area congressman and military veteran, entered the race later, complicating the anti-Paxton lane and reshaping the dynamics.
—Dante Motley, Austin American Statesman, 3 Mar. 2026
As the 9/11 Commission determined, Clinton had authorized lethal action against bin Laden only if he couldn’t be captured, thus complicating the missions and leaving the CIA uncertain as to whether the agency was being directed to kidnap bin Laden or eliminate him.
—Tim Naftali, The Atlantic, 3 Mar. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for complicating
Verb
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Benoit Tessier | Reuters LONDON — European stocks are expected to open lower on Wednesday, as traders monitor intensifying operations in the Middle East.—
Holly Ellyatt,
CNBC,
11 Mar. 2026
-
The government is intensifying efforts to rein in a glut in production.—
Bloomberg News,
Bloomberg,
9 Mar. 2026
Verb
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The song revolves slowly, casting loop against deepening loop, asking for the same careful quality of attention as William Basinski or Stars of the Lid.—
Sasha Geffen,
Pitchfork,
10 Mar. 2026
-
Yet many of the old-timers and young tech workers who live here seem to have accepted the coming changes as an unavoidable reality of California’s deepening housing crisis.—
Shomik Mukherjee,
Mercury News,
10 Mar. 2026
Verb
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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
-
The country is facing a worsening economic crisis.—
Sam Meredith,
CNBC,
13 Mar. 2026
-
Worries are worsening that the war could block the production of oil in the Persian Gulf for a long time and cause a debilitating surge of inflation for the global economy.—
Stan Choe,
Los Angeles Times,
12 Mar. 2026
Verb
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These are embarrassing own goals that Republicans simply can’t afford.—
S.E. Cupp,
New York Daily News,
4 Mar. 2026
-
Fairchild played the free-wheeling bon vivant Nora Tyler Bing on five episodes of the sitcom classic, unwittingly embarrassing Perry's Chandler Bing to the delight of his pals.—
Ryan Coleman,
Entertainment Weekly,
16 Feb. 2026
Verb
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There might be more than one bench spot to be won on the opening-day roster, as infielder Sung-Mun Song has not swung a bat since aggravating a right oblique strain on Sunday.—
Kevin Acee,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
11 Mar. 2026
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Rory McIlroy withdrew from last week’s Arnold Palmer Invitational before the third round after aggravating his back during a pre-round workout.—
Justin Ray,
New York Times,
11 Mar. 2026
Verb
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That has to be confusing to the hitter.—
Eno Sarris,
New York Times,
13 Mar. 2026
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Two years later, promoters marketed confusing credits such as the Employee Retention Credit to businesses that did not qualify, collecting fees to file improper claims.—
Kurt Knutsson,
FOXNews.com,
12 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Last year’s dead leaves and branches, still not cleared away, lay on the ground, entangling our feet.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
13 Feb. 2026
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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
Cite this Entry
“Complicating.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/complicating. Accessed 16 Mar. 2026.
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