involved 1 of 2

involved

2 of 2

verb

past tense of involve
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as in affected
to be the business or affair of this isn't something that involves you, so don't worry about it

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Synonym Chooser

How does the adjective involved differ from other similar words?

Some common synonyms of involved are complex, complicated, intricate, and knotty. While all these words mean "having confusingly interrelated parts," involved implies extreme complication and often disorder.

a rambling, involved explanation

When is it sensible to use complex instead of involved?

In some situations, the words complex and involved are roughly equivalent. However, complex suggests the unavoidable result of a necessary combining and does not imply a fault or failure.

a complex recipe

When is complicated a more appropriate choice than involved?

The synonyms complicated and involved are sometimes interchangeable, but complicated applies to what offers great difficulty in understanding, solving, or explaining.

complicated legal procedures

Where would intricate be a reasonable alternative to involved?

While in some cases nearly identical to involved, intricate suggests such interlacing of parts as to make it nearly impossible to follow or grasp them separately.

an intricate web of deceit

In what contexts can knotty take the place of involved?

The meanings of knotty and involved largely overlap; however, knotty suggests complication and entanglement that make solution or understanding improbable.

knotty ethical questions

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 involved
Adjective
Russia, a longtime ally of Iran and nuclear-armed adversary of the U.S., has sounded the alarm about the potential globally-devastating consequences of the conflict, especially should the U.S. military get more involved. Miranda Jeyaretnam, Time, 19 June 2025 Middle East experts say the uncertainty of the war and whether the United States will become involved make the situation even more difficult. Livi Stanford, Hartford Courant, 18 June 2025
Verb
Injuries have played a major role in undermining the collective impact of the players involved for Brighton, while a third of the signings have been out on loan to clubs throughout the continent. Andy Naylor, New York Times, 11 Apr. 2025 Unfortunately, claims like these prove to be harmful to all involved, absent full review. Daniel R. Depetris, MSNBC Newsweek, 11 Apr. 2025 See All Example Sentences for involved
Recent Examples of Synonyms for involved
Adjective
  • Over and over, Victor argues for the emotional experience of suffering, that recovering from terrible trauma is genuinely complicated.
    Paul A. Thompson, Pitchfork, 27 June 2025
  • And the touchscreen, although not the quickest, wasn’t overly complicated either.
    Matthew MacConnell, Forbes.com, 27 June 2025
Adjective
  • The Women’s European Championship gets under way on Wednesday and our writers have spent recent months studying the teams to bring you detailed guides for all of the 16 competing nations.
    The Athletic UK Staff, New York Times, 29 June 2025
  • With more powerful telescopes and new printing technologies, astronomers began applying the cartographic tools of geographers to create the first detailed maps of the planet’s surface, filling it in with continents and seas, and in some cases features that could have been produced by life.
    Matthew Shindell, Space.com, 29 June 2025
Verb
  • Additionally, taxpayers in Los Angeles County, California, affected by the devastating wildfires in January have until October 15 to file their tax returns for 2024.
    Thomas G. Moukawsher, MSNBC Newsweek, 14 Apr. 2025
  • Additionally, taxpayers in Los Angeles County, California, affected by the devastating wildfires in January have until October 15 to file their tax returns for 2024.
    Thomas G. Moukawsher, MSNBC Newsweek, 14 Apr. 2025
Verb
  • The South Cape and Islands — where recreational shark fishing has historically focused on species other than great whites — are not included in the restricted area.
    Melissa Cristina Márquez, Forbes.com, 14 Apr. 2025
  • The effort took two years of analysis by a team that included historians, engineers and forensic experts, Nat Geo in a statement.
    Theresa Braine, New York Daily News, 14 Apr. 2025
Adjective
  • Could the bond sell-off complicate the House’s budget negotiations?
    Andrew Ross Sorkin, New York Times, 19 May 2025
  • The moves challenge the traditional U.S. security role and complicate Africa's geopolitical landscape as Washington steps back.
    Amir Daftari, MSNBC Newsweek, 26 May 2025
Adjective
  • Sharper, higher quality steel blades are manufactured by a Swiss company specializing in intricate watch components, and the program lets each attendee choose their own mix of blades and accessories.
    Larry Olmsted, Forbes.com, 1 July 2025
  • The brand scouts artisans around the world who specialize in various techniques, from intricate embroidery to weaving, beadwork and tailoring.
    Andrea Onate, Footwear News, 30 June 2025
Verb
  • Jabbar's truck contained an ISIS flag.
    Joey Garrison, USA TODAY, 3 Jan. 2025
  • Many of the posts contained hateful messages about Muslim Americans, the same type of bigotry O'Reilly had fought against.
    Niraj Warikoo, Detroit Free Press, 3 Jan. 2025
Verb
  • Traded by the Angels and non-tendered by Atlanta, Canning signed with the Mets because he was intrigued by their successful major-league development of starters last season.
    Tim Britton, The Athletic, 25 Mar. 2025
  • The Ravens would have to be intrigued if Banks falls in the mid-20s.
    Jeff Zrebiec, The Athletic, 25 Mar. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Involved.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/involved. Accessed 7 Jul. 2025.

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