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complicated

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verb

past tense of complicate

Synonym Chooser

How does the adjective complicated differ from other similar words?

Some common synonyms of complicated are complex, intricate, involved, and knotty. While all these words mean "having confusingly interrelated parts," complicated applies to what offers great difficulty in understanding, solving, or explaining.

complicated legal procedures

When might complex be a better fit than complicated?

The words complex and complicated can be used in similar contexts, but complex suggests the unavoidable result of a necessary combining and does not imply a fault or failure.

a complex recipe

When would intricate be a good substitute for complicated?

The synonyms intricate and complicated are sometimes interchangeable, but intricate suggests such interlacing of parts as to make it nearly impossible to follow or grasp them separately.

an intricate web of deceit

When is it sensible to use involved instead of complicated?

The words involved and complicated are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, involved implies extreme complication and often disorder.

a rambling, involved explanation

When is knotty a more appropriate choice than complicated?

Although the words knotty and complicated have much in common, 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 complicated
Adjective
Brewer, particularly, redefines the bullying aristocrat, played in the movie as a simpering sadist, but a more robust, complicated man onstage. Michael Barnes, Austin American Statesman, 8 July 2025 At first, the blog was a hobby for the three college students to break down complicated world issues, like the Rohingya crisis, for themselves and their friends while in between classes and part-time jobs. Jennifer Liu, CNBC, 7 July 2025 The Swiss watchmaker, known for producing highly complicated timepieces, has teamed up with Brough Superior to create a limited-edition motorcycle. Rachel Cormack, Robb Report, 7 July 2025 Many of the children have trauma and complicated needs, and one of the responses may be to run away. Ginny Monk, Hartford Courant, 27 June 2025 See All Example Sentences for complicated
Recent Examples of Synonyms for complicated
Adjective
  • The district has tried to be conservative on replacing items as efforts to form a fire territory complicate issues of investment and ownership.
    Shelley Jones, Chicago Tribune, 8 July 2025
  • Certainly tariffs are adding to economic uncertainty and complicate decision-making for the Federal Reserve.
    Simon Moore, Forbes.com, 17 June 2025
Adjective
  • But the attempt to throw a lifeline to the fossil fuel industry could be too little, too late, as detailed in this New Yorker article by Bill McKibben.
    semafor.com, semafor.com, 11 July 2025
  • Here is a detailed outlook for when the Bills return for training camp in late July.
    Joe Buscaglia, New York Times, 11 July 2025
Verb
  • In the sixth inning, India re-aggravated the injury after reaching base on a one-out walk.
    Jaylon Thompson, Kansas City Star, 13 Apr. 2025
  • However, the fall of Syrian President Bashar Assad aggravated already tense relations between Turkey and Israel, with their conflicting interests pushing the relationship toward a possible collision course.
    Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 12 Apr. 2025
Adjective
  • With a set that featured lush green hills and intricate cultural motifs, the visuals matched the depth of his message: Puerto Rican culture was front and center — not for explanation but for celebration.
    Isabela Raygoza, Billboard, 12 July 2025
  • Roseanne Cash Westport Country Playhouse, 25 Powers Court, Westport Roseanne Cash and her longtime performing partner (and husband) John Leventhal play the intricate, rustically ornate Westport Country Playhouse.
    Christopher Arnott, Hartford Courant, 12 July 2025
Adjective
  • The espresso martini is arguably delicious, just complex enough and pulls double duty with alcohol and caffeine.
    Charlotte Observer, Charlotte Observer, 9 July 2025
  • As the social-media ecosystem has become more fragmented and complex during the past several years, with new platforms continually emerging and decaying, there’s been some user attrition.
    Kyle Chayka, New Yorker, 9 July 2025
Verb
  • As the recession deepened and unemployment shot higher, the interest and the penalties on Natale’s loans compounded much faster than her ability to move up the ladder to higher paying jobs.
    Alicia Wallace, CNN, 21 Mar. 2025
  • Deep divisions The angry scenes on Thursday highlighted divisions that have deepened since Netanyahu returned to power as head of a right-wing coalition at the end of 2022.
    Reuters, USA TODAY, 21 Mar. 2025
Adjective
  • The Securities and Exchange Commission has accused Edwin Brant Frost IV and his private lending company First Liberty Building & Loan with allegedly presiding over a sophisticated $140 million Ponzi scheme, according to a civil complaint filed on Thursday in federal court in Atlanta.
    Amanda Gerut, Fortune, 11 July 2025
  • Muli’s special smart technology features intelligence residence functions that control the shades, lighting with unique settings for morning and evening, air management and is outfitted with a sophisticated security system.
    Sofia Celeste, Footwear News, 10 July 2025
Adjective
  • Katy Perry's Phoenix concert featured elaborate visuals, gravity-defying stunts and her biggest hits.
    Tiffany Acosta, AZCentral.com, 13 July 2025
  • The mayor has yet to internalize how much City Hall’s elaborate bait-and-switch on voters in winning approval of much-higher-than-promised new trash fees on 226,000-plus single-family homes has damaged his reputation.
    U T Editorial Board, San Diego Union-Tribune, 12 July 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Complicated.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/complicated. Accessed 18 Jul. 2025.

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