complex

modif.

1. Composed of several parts

   composite, heterogeneous, compound, conglomerate, multiple, mingled, mixed, motley, mosaic, manifold, multifaceted, multiform, many-sided, many-faceted, complicated, elaborate, aggregate, involved, combined, compact, compounded, amalgamated, miscellaneous, multiplex, multifarious, variegated, interwoven, interlaced; see also mixed 1.

   Antonyms simplified*, single*, homogeneous. *

2. Difficult to understand

   complicated, involved, intricate, entangled, tangled, circuitous, convoluted, puzzling, mingled, muddled, jumbled, impenetrable, inscrutable, unfathomable, undecipherable, bewildering, perplexing, confused, difficult, obscure, abstruse, recondite, labyrinthine, enigmatic, hidden, knotted, knotty, meandering, winding, sinuous, tortuous, snarled, irreducible, rambling, paradoxical, excursive, Daedalian, Gordian, twisted, disordered, devious, Byzantine, cryptic, inextricable, mazy, roundabout, crabbed; see also confused 2, difficult 2, obscure 1.

   Antonyms simple, understandable*, plain*, apparent.

complex refers to that which is made up of many elaborately interrelated or interconnected parts, so that much study or knowledge is needed to understand or operate it a complex mechanism; complicated is applied to that which is highly complex and hence very difficult to analyze, solve, or understand a complicated problem; intricate specifically suggests a perplexingly elaborate interweaving of parts that is difficult to follow an intricate maze; involved, in this connection, is applied to situations, ideas, etc. whose parts are thought of as intertwining in complicated, often disordered, fashion an involved argument

complex

n.

1. An obsession

   exaggerated reaction syndrome, phobia, mania, fixation, repressed emotions, repressed fears, repressed desires, repressed hates, group of repressed associations, hang-up*; see also fear 2, insanity 1, neurosis, obsession.

   Types of psychological complexes include: Cain, castration, Diana, Electra, Oedipus, superiority, inferiority, persecution.

2. A composite

   system, network, conglomerate, syndrome, web, tangle, ecosystem, ecological complex, aggregation, association, group, entanglement, totality; see also collection 2, confusion 2, system 1.