complicated 1 of 2

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
Rare archival footage, home movies and candid interviews paint a fuller, more complicated picture of the Piano Man — brilliant, driven, combative, sometimes conflicted and ultimately enduring. Michele Amabile Angermiller, HollywoodReporter, 18 July 2025 Azizi said confirmation of Alzheimer’s, as opposed to other forms of dementia, is needed to treat with those medications and, until the blood test diagnosis, was complicated, stressful, and expensive, Azizi said. Pamela McLoughlin, Hartford Courant, 18 July 2025 Johnston Atoll, an unincorporated US territory and Pacific island wildlife refuge with a complicated military history, will no longer become a SpaceX reusable rocket test site, Popular Science reports. Eric Berger, ArsTechnica, 18 July 2025 Molter noted that the parties were able to reach an agreement before on more complicated questions, and going this route again could save everyone some ire and money. Kayla Dwyer, IndyStar, 18 July 2025 See All Example Sentences for complicated
Recent Examples of Synonyms for complicated
Adjective
  • Tariffs, trade wars and economic uncertainty complicate operations and planning.
    Simon Dae Oong Kim, Forbes.com, 6 June 2025
  • Now, sometimes the people or circumstances around us complicate that endeavor.
    R. Eric Thomas, Denver Post, 4 June 2025
Adjective
  • The Norwegian man is accused of giving detailed information on embassy employees, diplomats, and their families, as well as floor plans of the embassy, safety practices, photos of the facilities, and visitors to Russian and Iranian handlers.
    Shane Croucher, MSNBC Newsweek, 23 July 2025
  • In a recent presentation at Salesforce's London DX conference, one session showed how AI can look at a Salesforce configuration, draw the process diagrams for an area and then identify agentic use cases based on a detailed framework.
    Ian Gotts, Forbes.com, 23 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
  • Anne Hathaway wears an intricate scarf and shades on the set of The Devil Wears Prada 2 in New York City on July 25.
    Alexandra Schonfeld, People.com, 25 July 2025
  • Nearby, Peacock Alley Lounge—the beating heart of the hotel–now feels more like a salon, with musicians playing nightly and guests craning for a closer look at the intricate ceiling.
    Jacqui Gifford, Travel + Leisure, 25 July 2025
Adjective
  • Advocates argue that these policies are traumatizing for the children and that legal representation is crucial for navigating the complex immigration system.
    Nicol León, AZCentral.com, 22 July 2025
  • These complex, multistep activities require sustained focus, planning, problem-solving, and a commitment to working toward a goal—all valuable skills for anyone to develop.
    Christine Carrig, The Atlantic, 21 July 2025
Verb
  • 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
  • Those convictions were only deepened in the spring and summer of 2020, with the COVID-19 pandemic and post-George Floyd protests.
    Alexander Nazaryan, Washington Examiner - Political News and Conservative Analysis About Congress, the President, and the Federal Government, 21 Mar. 2025
Adjective
  • What stands out most about the set is the classic hammered glass design of the dispensers and the ornate accents of the stand, which give everything a sophisticated, timeless feel.
    Alicia Geigel, Southern Living, 22 July 2025
  • Private-equity firms and non-bank lenders have grown impressively over the last few decades due to substantial demand for their offerings from those sophisticated investors.
    Orlando Sentinel, The Orlando Sentinel, 22 July 2025
Adjective
  • Beginning with an elaborate caper and car chase through the streets of Cairo that would make Tom Cruise jealous, The Bad Guys 2 seeks to outshine the original at every turn.
    Frank Scheck, HollywoodReporter, 24 July 2025
  • Somebody’s always cheating somebody out of money with elaborate schemes.
    Frank DiGiacomo, Billboard, 24 July 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Complicated.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/complicated. Accessed 29 Jul. 2025.

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