Complex — Meaning, Definition & Synonyms

noun adjective verb /ˈkäm-ˌpleks/ (noun) /käm-ˈpleks/ (adjective) com·plex

Meaning & Definition of Complex

Complex (noun)

  1. a whole made up of complicated or interrelated parts
  2. a group of culture traits relating to a single activity (such as hunting), process (such as use of flint), or culture unit
  3. a group of repressed desires and memories that exerts a dominating influence upon the personality

Complex (adjective)

  1. composed of two or more parts, composite
  2. having a bound form as one or more of its immediate constituents
  3. consisting of a main clause and one or more subordinate clauses

Complex (verb)

  1. to make complex or into a complex
  2. chelate

Complex (adjective) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. having many parts or aspects that are usually interrelated

    "this medical device is a complex instrument that requires careful handling"

    "complex issues regarding free speech and school discipline"

    similar: baroque, byzantine, complicate, complicated, convoluted, daedal, elaborate, intricate, involute, involved, knotty, labyrinthian, labyrinthine, sophisticated, tangled
    related: overcomplex, overcomplicated, composite, compound, heterogeneous, mixed, multibranched, multifaceted, multifarious, multipart, varied, challenging, difficult, tough, impenetrable, incomprehensible, inexplicable, Kafkaesque, unfathomable, unintelligible
    opposite: noncomplex, noncomplicated, plain, simple, uncomplicated
    near: oversimplified, simplified, simplistic, homogeneous, uniform, unvaried

  2. made or done with great care or with much detail

    "a complex plan for evacuating the city in the event of a natural disaster"

    similar: complicated, detailed, elaborate, fancy, intricate, involved, sophisticated
    related: elegant, exquisite, grand, magnificent, ornate, splendid, chichi, extravagant, exuberant, fancified, flamboyant, frilly, gimmicked (up), grandiose, ostentatious, overwrought, showy, souped-up, Byzantine, convoluted, involute, involuted, labyrinthian, labyrinthine
    opposite: no-frills, simple, unfancy, unsophisticated
    near: modest, plain, plain-Jane, plain-vanilla, uncomplicated, bald, bare, naked, unadorned, undecorated, unvarnished

Complex (noun) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. a structure that is designed and built for a particular purpose

    "an apartment complex"

    similar: establishment, facility, installation
    related: building, edifice, institute, institution, business, company, concern, outfit

  2. something made up of many interdependent or related parts

    "a complex of government programs designed to assist the needy"

    similar: network, system
    related: interlacement, mesh, meshwork, net, plexus, web, aggregate, conglomerate, totality, whole, sequence, series, supersystem

Complex (verb) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. to make complex or difficult

    "there's no need to complex what should be a simple process for obtaining a building permit"

    similar: complexify, complicate, embarrass, entangle, perplex, sophisticate
    related: develop, elaborate, expand, intensify, magnify, confound, confuse, mess (up), mix (up), muddle, snarl, tangle
    opposite: simplify, streamline
    near: abbreviate, cut, shorten, ease, facilitate, disentangle, straighten (out), unravel, untangle, oversimplify

Related Entry: Complexity (noun)

Complexity is a different word from Complex. The synonyms below are for complexity, not for complex.

  1. the state or quality of having many interrelated parts or aspects

    "the complexity of the company's computer system is such that a full-time employee is needed to maintain it"

    similar: complexness, complicacy, complicatedness, complication, elaborateness, intricacy, intricateness, involution, knottiness, sophistication
    related: diversity, heterogeneity, heterogeneousness, multifariousness, impenetrability, incomprehensibility, inexplicability
    opposite: plainness, simpleness, simplicity
    near: simplification, homogeneity, uniformity

  2. something that makes a situation more complicated or difficult

    "the political complexities that the secretary-general must deal with"

    similar: complicacy, complication, convolution, difficulty, intricacy, fly in the ointment
    related: aftereffect, ramification, side effect, subtlety, technicality, annoyance, bitch, bother, headache, inconvenience, matter, trouble

Related Entry: Superiority complex (noun)

Superiority complex is a different word from Complex. The synonyms below are for superiority complex, not for complex.

  1. as in vaingloriousness, bumptiousness

    similar: arrogance, assumption, bumptiousness, consequence, haughtiness, hauteur, high horse, huffiness, imperiousness, loftiness, lordliness, masterfulness, peremptoriness, pomposity, pompousness, presumptuousness, pretense, pretension, pretentiousness, self-consequence, self-importance, superciliousness, superiority, toploftiness, cockiness, complacence, conceit, egoism, egotism, pride, pridefulness, self-assumption, self-centeredness, self-complacency, self-conceit, self-content, self-contentment, self-opinion, self-partiality, self-satisfaction, smugness, swelled head, vanity, boastfulness, bombast, braggadocio, bravado, strut, swagger, triumphalism, vaingloriousness, vainglory, chest-thumping, inflation, self-assertion, side (chiefly British), snobbery, snobbishness, snobbism, snootiness, attitude, cheek, cheekiness, impertinence, impudence, sauciness, authoritativeness, bossiness, bowwow, brag, dominance, high-handedness, condescension, disdain, scorn
    opposite: humility, modesty, unassumingness, unpretentiousness, bashfulness, demureness, retiringness, shyness, diffidence, self-distrust, self-doubt, timidity, timidness, lowliness, meekness, mousiness, passiveness, passivity, submissiveness, quietness, reserve, reservedness

Synonyms, Thesaurus & Another Word for Complex

The most common words with a similar meaning to Complex:

baroque, byzantine, complicate, complicated, convoluted, daedal, elaborate, intricate, involute, involved, knotty, labyrinthian, labyrinthine, sophisticated, tangled, detailed, fancy, establishment, facility, installation, network, system, complexify, embarrass, entangle, perplex, sophisticate

Antonyms & Opposite Words for Complex

Words with the opposite meaning of Complex:

noncomplex, noncomplicated, plain, simple, uncomplicated, no-frills, unfancy, unsophisticated, simplify, streamline

Related Words for Complex

overcomplex, overcomplicated, composite, compound, heterogeneous, mixed, multibranched, multifaceted, multifarious, multipart, varied, challenging, difficult, tough, impenetrable, incomprehensible, inexplicable, Kafkaesque, unfathomable, unintelligible, elegant, exquisite, grand, magnificent, ornate, splendid, chichi, extravagant, exuberant, fancified

Near Antonyms of Complex

oversimplified, simplified, simplistic, homogeneous, uniform, unvaried, modest, plain-Jane, plain-vanilla, bald, bare, naked, unadorned, undecorated, unvarnished, abbreviate, cut, shorten, ease, facilitate, disentangle, straighten (out), unravel, untangle, oversimplify

Word Forms of Complex

Inflections: complexed, complexing, complexes

Derived words: complexly (adverb), complexness (noun), complexation (noun)

Origin & Etymology of Complex

borrowed from Latin complexus "embrace, grasp, inclusion" (Late Latin also, "whole, entirety") from complector, complectī "to embrace, grasp, encompass, include" + -tus, suffix of action nouns; (sense 2b (1)) after German Komplex complex:2

First known use: circa 1652

Vocabulary Lists & Topics for Complex

Words & Phrases Containing Complex

complexity, complex carbohydrate, complex fraction, complex number, complex plane, complex regional pain syndrome, AIDS-related complex

Frequently Asked Questions about Complex

What does "Complex" mean?

"Complex" means a whole made up of complicated or interrelated parts. As an a noun, an adjective and a verb, it is defined as: a whole made up of complicated or interrelated parts. It has 5 distinct senses.

What is another word for "Complex"?

Other words for "Complex" include baroque, byzantine, complicate, complicated, convoluted, daedal, elaborate and intricate. The best synonym depends on which meaning of "Complex" you intend.

What are different ways to say "Complex"?

There are 99 words and phrases with a similar meaning to "Complex". Common alternatives include baroque, byzantine, complicate, complicated, convoluted, daedal, elaborate, intricate, involute and involved.

What is the opposite of "Complex"?

Antonyms of "Complex" include noncomplex, noncomplicated, plain, simple, uncomplicated, no-frills, unfancy and unsophisticated. Near antonyms include oversimplified, simplified, simplistic and homogeneous.

How do you use "Complex" in a sentence?

Examples of "Complex" in a sentence: "this medical device is a complex instrument that requires careful handling"; "complex issues regarding free speech and school discipline"; "a complex plan for evacuating the city in the event of a natural disaster".

Is "Complex" a noun, verb, or adjective?

"Complex" can be used as a noun, an adjective and a verb, depending on the context.

Is "Complex" useful for IELTS, TOEFL, and other English exams?

As a B1-level word, "Complex" is typical of Cambridge B1 Preliminary (PET), IELTS band 4.0–5.0, TOEFL iBT 42–71, PTE Academic 43–58, TOEIC Listening & Reading 550+. It is on the Academic Word List, so it appears often in IELTS Academic, TOEFL iBT, PTE Academic, and university texts.

How do you pronounce "Complex"?

"Complex" is pronounced /ˈkäm-ˌpleks/ as a noun and /käm-ˈpleks/ as an adjective and divided into syllables as com·plex.