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
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
Mamdani cited the 28-30 inches of snow that fell, and pointed to the narrow streets on Staten Island as factors complicating the cleanup.
—Aziza Shuler, CBS News, 24 Feb. 2026
Further complicating the problem is damage to consumer perception.
—Sean Timberlake, Sacbee.com, 23 Feb. 2026
Corporate margins are already at all-time highs, BofA strategists noted, complicating this 17% forecast.
—Nick Lichtenberg, Fortune, 20 Feb. 2026
But her government first must tackle rising prices and stagnant wages, complicating her ultra-conservative social agenda on immigration and women’s rights.
—Mari Yamaguchi, Los Angeles Times, 18 Feb. 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, 16 Feb. 2026
Further complicating things were that the fastball-slider combo essentially stayed on the same plane, mostly up in the strike zone.
—Evan Grant, Dallas Morning News, 11 Feb. 2026
For both passengers and crews, El Paso's location is a further complicating factor.
—Zach Wichter, USA Today, 11 Feb. 2026
Chris Johnston, New York Times, 24 Feb. 2026
Mamdani cited the 28-30 inches of snow that fell, and pointed to the narrow streets on Staten Island as factors complicating the cleanup.
—Aziza Shuler, CBS News, 24 Feb. 2026
Further complicating the problem is damage to consumer perception.
—Sean Timberlake, Sacbee.com, 23 Feb. 2026
Corporate margins are already at all-time highs, BofA strategists noted, complicating this 17% forecast.
—Nick Lichtenberg, Fortune, 20 Feb. 2026
But her government first must tackle rising prices and stagnant wages, complicating her ultra-conservative social agenda on immigration and women’s rights.
—Mari Yamaguchi, Los Angeles Times, 18 Feb. 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, 16 Feb. 2026
Further complicating things were that the fastball-slider combo essentially stayed on the same plane, mostly up in the strike zone.
—Evan Grant, Dallas Morning News, 11 Feb. 2026
For both passengers and crews, El Paso's location is a further complicating factor.
—Zach Wichter, USA Today, 11 Feb. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for complicating
Verb
-
The New Terms As the physical retail landscape transforms, the battle for the Kingdom’s digital consumer is intensifying too.—
Ritu Upadhyay,
Footwear News,
25 Feb. 2026
-
The White House has flexed its muscles across the Caribbean in recent months, capturing the president of Venezuela, intensifying an embargo on Cuba, and striking alleged drug-trafficking vessels.—
semafor.com,
semafor.com,
25 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
Indeed, the companies’ deepening relationship points to confidence that smart glasses can be a goldmine and any differences can be worked out.—
Bloomberg,
Mercury News,
24 Feb. 2026
-
His latest proposal would involve deepening ties between the European Union and the CPTPP, a Pacific trade organization.—
semafor.com,
semafor.com,
23 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
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
-
Beyond the confrontation at sea, Cuba is still grappling with a worsening economic crisis.—
Erika Gonzalez,
CBS News,
27 Feb. 2026
-
But relations aren’t exclusively sour — Trump has in the past few days kept EU tariff rates at 10% rather than rising to 15% — and Godard said this could have a bearing on the Paramount-WBD deal’s regulatory path, along with fear over future, worsening tariffs.—
Max Goldbart,
Deadline,
27 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
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
-
One day, Will goes viral after embarrassing ROAR league MVP, Mane Attraction (Aaron Pierre), during a streetball challenge, prompting his favorite team, the Vineland Thorns, to sign him to a season-ending contract in a desperate attempt to juice ticket sales.—
Brian Davids,
HollywoodReporter,
11 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
But the situation is still aggravating for patients like Oakland Park resident Anna Mae Dominguez.—
Miami Herald,
Miami Herald,
20 Feb. 2026
-
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
-
At Hotel Lorenzo, managing partner Justin Burton said confusing detours and signage are creating frustration for visitors.—
Nicole Nielsen,
CBS News,
18 Feb. 2026
-
But missing details on tax forms, such as on your W-2 from an employer, could be confusing when filing returns this year, experts say.—
Kate Dore, CFP®, EA,
CNBC,
17 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
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
-
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 28 Feb. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
