complete 1 of 2

verb

Definition of completenext
1
as in to finish
to bring (something) to a state where nothing remains to be done managed to complete the assignment with time to spare

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in to complement
to serve as a completing element to the bird's beautiful song simply completes its appeal for pet owners

Synonyms & Similar Words
3
as in to end
to bring (an event) to a natural or appropriate stopping point the well-attended concert completed a great weekend of arts and entertainment events

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms
4
as in to fulfill
to do what is required by the terms of no payments will be made until the contract is completed

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

complete

2 of 2

adjective

kəm-ˈplēt How to pronounce complete (audio)
1
as in entire
not lacking any part or member that properly belongs to it a complete deck of cards

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in finished
brought or having come to an end your education is never complete—there's always something more to learn

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in comprehensive
covering everything or all important points will present complete coverage of the tennis tournament

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms
4
as in utter
having no exceptions or restrictions he's a complete lunatic

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms
5
as in thorough
trying all possibilities a complete search of the computer file

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms
6
as in skilled
having or showing exceptional knowledge, experience, or skill in a field of endeavor a riding school that will teach you all skills required of the complete equestrian

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Try This Instead

For
Try This
complete information
detailed information
true information
correct information
comprehensive information
full information
complete understanding
perfect understanding
full understanding
absolute understanding
sufficient understanding
total understanding
complete coverage
total coverage
full coverage
enough coverage
excellent coverage
over-all coverage
a complete list
a detailed list
an extensive list
an exhaustive list
a definitive list
a conclusive list
complete lack
total lack

Synonym Chooser

How does the verb complete differ from other similar words?

Some common synonyms of complete are close, conclude, end, finish, and terminate. While all these words mean "to bring or come to a stopping point or limit," complete implies the removal of all deficiencies or a successful finishing of what has been undertaken.

the resolving of this last issue completes the agreement

Where would close be a reasonable alternative to complete?

The meanings of close and complete largely overlap; however, close usually implies that something has been in some way open as well as unfinished.

close a debate

In what contexts can conclude take the place of complete?

While the synonyms conclude and complete are close in meaning, conclude may imply a formal closing (as of a meeting).

the service concluded with a blessing

When could end be used to replace complete?

Although the words end and complete have much in common, end conveys a strong sense of finality.

ended his life

When might finish be a better fit than complete?

The words finish and complete can be used in similar contexts, but finish may stress completion of a final step in a process.

after it is painted, the house will be finished

When would terminate be a good substitute for complete?

In some situations, the words terminate and complete are roughly equivalent. However, terminate implies the setting of a limit in time or space.

your employment terminates after three months

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 complete
Verb
The $200-million project was originally envisioned to cover 4,100 acres, for which the bulk of construction has been completed. —Ian James, Los Angeles Times, 24 May 2025 Throughout the 2024 season, Rodgers completed 63 percent of his pass attempts for 3,897 yards, 28 touchdowns, and 11 interceptions. —Evan Massey, MSNBC Newsweek, 24 May 2025
Adjective
The Estes Space Shuttle is a 1:200 scale model of the legendary craft, complete with booster rockets and a fuel tank. —Ian Stokes, Space.com, 23 May 2025 Lodging options include guest rooms in the main inn or bungalows, complete with a cocktail bar for guests to make their own summer aperitifs. —Elise Taylor, Vogue, 23 May 2025 See All Example Sentences for complete
Recent Examples of Synonyms for complete
  1. finish
  2. complement
  3. end
  4. fulfill
  5. entire
  6. finished
  7. comprehensive
  8. utter
Verb
  • That Walker finished the entire seven-game trip 4-for-27 furthered the thought.
    — Chandler Rome, New York Times, 25 May 2025
  • Confusion on one sequence led to a wide-open dunk for Myles Turner, who finished through a foul by Mitchell Robinson for a three-point play that gave Indiana an 86-83 lead.
    — Peter Sblendorio, New York Daily News, 24 May 2025
Definition of finish
Verb
  • Its solid pine wood frame sits upon tapered dowel legs, giving it a mid-century modern aesthetic that complements various decor styles.
    — Alexandra Kay, People.com, 25 May 2025
  • Don’t be tempted to grab every card you’re offered, and focus on cards that complement one another.
    — Barry Collins, Forbes.com, 24 May 2025
Definition of complement
Verb
  • Parks and Recreation ended more than a decade ago, but its seven seasons left behind countless meme formats to be recycled in perpetuity.
    — Larisha Paul, Rolling Stone, 3 June 2025
  • Even stronger-than-expected first quarter results For the quarter ended May 2, Dollar General’s net sales rose 5.3% to $10.4 billion, same-store sales climbed 2.4%, and diluted earnings per share increased 7.9% to $1.78.
    — Catherine Baab, Quartz, 3 June 2025
Definition of end
Verb
  • This not only fulfills regulatory requirements but also reassures investors about the company's commitment to safeguarding assets and information.
    — Sean Stein Smith, Forbes.com, 24 May 2025
  • Ultimately, hundreds of thousands of potential buyers chose not to fulfill their orders, and many of them could have had reasons related to the EV's design flaws.
    — Charles Singh, USA Today, 24 May 2025
Definition of fulfill
Adjective
  • Real Madrid have reached an agreement with Liverpool to sign Trent Alexander-Arnold early — enabling the right-back to be available for their entire Club World Cup campaign.
    — Oliver Kay, New York Times, 30 May 2025
  • Temperatures hover in the high 80s to low 90s, with rain chances at 60% across the entire region.
    — Garfield Hylton, The Orlando Sentinel, 30 May 2025
Definition of entire
Adjective
  • The finished basement has a kitchenette, a windowed full bathroom and a washer/dryer.
    — Heather Senison, New York Times, 22 May 2025
  • The back and front of a finished Legit Kits quilt, with the design’s guidance paper still attached.
    — Megan Sauer Ryan Johnston, CNBC, 22 May 2025
Definition of finished
Adjective
  • Being able to place the device on someone’s head would allow for more comprehensive brain monitoring.
    — Paul McClure May 29, New Atlas, 29 May 2025
  • Additionally, Rael is launching at 5,000 Walgreens doors with a comprehensive assortment of products across skin care and period care.
    — Emily Burns, Footwear News, 29 May 2025
Definition of comprehensive
Adjective
  • Even more notable was the string of copycat series Survivor sparked, which caused an utter explosion for the genre as other networks raced to find its very own success story.
    — Nick Caruso, TVLine, 27 May 2025
  • His mission was to keep the vibes high in the face of utter hopelessness.
    — Mark Lazerus, New York Times, 22 May 2025
Definition of utter

Browse Nearby Words

complements
complete
completed
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Complete.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/complete. Accessed 6 Jun. 2025.

Copy Citation

Share

More from Merriam-Webster on complete

Nglish: Translation of complete for Spanish Speakers

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

'Affect' vs. 'Effect'

Using Bullet Points ( • )

'Bring' vs. 'Take'

Is it 'used to' or 'use to'?

Why is '-ed' sometimes pronounced at the end of a word?
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

Flower Etymologies For Your Spring Garden

How 'Namaste' Entered The English Language

10 Hella Good U.S. Regionalisms

Some Data About 'Datum'

The Clinical History of 'Moron,' 'Idiot,' and 'Imbecile'
See More

Popular

See More

'Affect' vs. 'Effect'

Flower Etymologies For Your Spring Garden

How 'Namaste' Entered The English Language
See More

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
image of a green cube out of place in a lineup of red spheres
Odd Word Out: Synonyms Vol. 2 Quiz Figure out which word isn't like the others.
See All