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
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
But the novel ultimately retreats from these complicating questions.
—Sarah Chihaya, New Yorker, 3 Mar. 2026
Tariffs were already raising costs and complicating planning assumptions.
—Sheryl Estrada, Fortune, 2 Mar. 2026
The timing coincides with Ramadan, complicating efforts to sustain the reconstruction momentum launched just weeks ago.
—Wafaa Shurafa, Los Angeles Times, 2 Mar. 2026
State regulators and the company have a history of permitting mistakes and violations, complicating safety oversight.
—Sarah Henry, AZCentral.com, 1 Mar. 2026
The Olympics include an extra complicating factor because the closing ceremony was scheduled immediately after the gold-medal game.
—Chris Johnston, New York Times, 24 Feb. 2026
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
But the novel ultimately retreats from these complicating questions.
—Sarah Chihaya, New Yorker, 3 Mar. 2026
Tariffs were already raising costs and complicating planning assumptions.
—Sheryl Estrada, Fortune, 2 Mar. 2026
The timing coincides with Ramadan, complicating efforts to sustain the reconstruction momentum launched just weeks ago.
—Wafaa Shurafa, Los Angeles Times, 2 Mar. 2026
State regulators and the company have a history of permitting mistakes and violations, complicating safety oversight.
—Sarah Henry, AZCentral.com, 1 Mar. 2026
The Olympics include an extra complicating factor because the closing ceremony was scheduled immediately after the gold-medal game.
—Chris Johnston, New York Times, 24 Feb. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for complicating
Verb
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And right here in Florida, intensifying disasters and disinformation combine to endanger our lives, damage our livelihoods, threaten our military communities and divide our citizens.—
Michael Chertoff,
The Orlando Sentinel,
4 Mar. 2026
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The Korean studio’s upcoming slate suggests its awards ambitions and international goals are only intensifying.—
Patrick Brzeski,
HollywoodReporter,
4 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Following talks in the Indian capital, the two countries’ prime ministers inked a deal deepening rare-earths cooperation, and pledged to double bilateral trade by the end of the decade.—
semafor.com,
semafor.com,
3 Mar. 2026
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After the Ukraine grid attacks of the mid 2010s, several European states accelerated cybersecurity investment, improving network segmentation, expanding backup capacity and deepening information sharing with private infrastructure operators.—
Andrew Latham,
The Conversation,
3 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
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Perched between China and India, the country of 30 million people has been plagued for decades by political instability, crippling a largely agrarian economy and worsening unemployment – structural issues compounded by rampant corruption.—
CNN Money,
CNN Money,
6 Mar. 2026
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Over 115,000 Afghans and 3,000 Pakistanis have been displaced by the conflict, with the UN warning of worsening humanitarian crises.—
Munir Ahmed,
Los Angeles Times,
6 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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But the standoff is also aggravating a humanitarian crisis already unfolding on the island.—
Nora Gámez Torres,
Miami Herald,
27 Feb. 2026
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Quinonez has missed four straight games since aggravating a shoulder injury that previously kept her out of two games in November.—
Emily Adams,
Hartford Courant,
11 Feb. 2026
Verb
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The reason is that missing information and others’ gaslighting are confusing your mind.—
Lisa Stardust,
Vogue,
23 Feb. 2026
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According to Sara Nibler, a recruiter at Redballoon who places candidates in roles ranging from manufacturing to media, job seekers are increasingly confusing the convenience of Zoom with an excuse to abandon basic professional etiquette.—
Nick Lichtenberg,
Fortune,
22 Feb. 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 7 Mar. 2026.
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