complicate Definition
com·pli·cate (käm′pli kāt′; for adj., -kit, -kāt′)
transitive verb, intransitive verb -·cat′ed, -·cat′·ing
to make or become intricate, difficult, or involved
Etymology: < L complicatus, pp. of complicare, to fold together < com-, together + plicare, to fold, weave: see flax
adjective
- Archaic complicated
- Biol. folded lengthwise, as some leaves or insects' wings
complicate Synonyms
complicate
v.
Antonyms
complicate Usage Examples
Object
- matter: To further complicate matters there are two sewer levels.
- bit: Sorry, it gets a bit complicated at times... .
- pregnancy: We Inform patients as to the risks involved in having a pregnancy complicated by diabetes and how these are minimized.
- factor: The truth is that lack of sleep may be a complicating factor in coping with times of stress.
- it's: When it comes to choosing your mortgage however, always seeks independent advice â itâs too complicated a decision to go it alone.
- situation: The presence of other children sharing one or both parents might further complicate the situation.
Subject
- fact: The position in the present case is complicated by the fact that there are two frauds involved.
- presence: The solution is complicated by the presence of lawyer media assumed to extend to infinity.
- arrival: Charlie gets knocked about as a set-up is suspected and a rooftop chase follows, much complicated by the arrival of the Keystone cops.
- infection: She had a prolonged recovery period complicated by infection.
Modifying Another Word
- unnecessarily: Why is it all so bloody, unnecessarily complicated?
- overly: They can be overly complicated, and people consider the prospect of their money being tied up for decades unattractive and inflexible.
- fiendishly: WORKING out how much money you will have in retirement is fiendishly complicated.
- needlessly: Why do people make their travel arrangements needlessly complicated?
Used with why or when
What: Far too simplified A little condescending Pitched just right Hard work Far too complicated What could improve this page?
Infinitive complement
explain: Actions and resources It can become complicated to explain exactly how young children learn in all their areas of development.
Preposition: by
- fact: The position in the present case is complicated by the fact that there are two frauds involved.
- presence: The solution is complicated by the presence of lawyer media assumed to extend to infinity.
- arrival: Charlie gets knocked about as a set-up is suspected and a rooftop chase follows, much complicated by the arrival of the Keystone cops.
- infection: She had a prolonged recovery period complicated by infection.
Browse dictionary entries near complicate
- ‹ complicacy
- ‹ compliant
- ‹ compliance
- ‹ compliable
- ‹ Complexity of Problem
- ‹ complexity
- ‹ complexioned
- ‹ complexion
- ‹ complex sentence
- ‹ complex number
- complicated ›
- complication ›
- complice ›
- complicitous ›
- complicity ›
- complier ›
- compliment ›
- complimentary ›
- compline ›
- complot ›

