Complicate — Meaning, Definition & Synonyms

verb adjective /ˈkäm-plə-ˌkāt/ (verb) /ˈkäm-pli-kət/ (adjective) com·pli·cate

Meaning & Definition of Complicate

Complicate (verb)

  1. to make complex or difficult
  2. involve; especially, to cause to be more complex or severe
  3. to combine especially in an involved or inextricable manner

Complicate (adjective)

  1. complex, intricate
  2. conduplicate

Complicate (verb) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. to make complex or difficult

    "the need to go to both a PTA conference and condo board meeting really complicates tonight's schedule"

    similar: complex, complexify, 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

  2. to make more severe

    "asthma that has recently been complicated by a bout of bronchitis"

    similar: aggravate, exacerbate, worsen
    related: amplify, deepen, intensify, magnify
    opposite: allay, alleviate, assuage, ease, help, mitigate, relieve
    near: ameliorate, better, improve

Complicate (adjective) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. having many parts or aspects that are usually interrelated

    "the kind of complicate machinery that is used in the field of robotics"

    similar: baroque, byzantine, complex, 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

Synonyms, Thesaurus & Another Word for Complicate

The most common words with a similar meaning to Complicate:

complex, complexify, embarrass, entangle, perplex, sophisticate, aggravate, exacerbate, worsen, baroque, byzantine, complicated, convoluted, daedal, elaborate, intricate, involute, involved, knotty, labyrinthian, labyrinthine, sophisticated, tangled

Antonyms & Opposite Words for Complicate

Words with the opposite meaning of Complicate:

simplify, streamline, allay, alleviate, assuage, ease, help, mitigate, relieve, noncomplex, noncomplicated, plain, simple, uncomplicated

Related Words for Complicate

develop, expand, intensify, magnify, confound, confuse, mess (up), mix (up), muddle, snarl, tangle, amplify, deepen, overcomplex, overcomplicated, composite, compound, heterogeneous, mixed, multibranched, multifaceted, multifarious, multipart, varied, challenging, difficult, tough, impenetrable, incomprehensible, inexplicable

Near Antonyms of Complicate

abbreviate, cut, shorten, facilitate, disentangle, straighten (out), unravel, untangle, oversimplify, ameliorate, better, improve, oversimplified, simplified, simplistic, homogeneous, uniform, unvaried

Word Forms of Complicate

Inflections: complicated, complicating

Origin & Etymology of Complicate

earlier, "to fold together, intertwine, combine in an involved manner," borrowed from Medieval Latin complicātus, past participle of complicāre "to fold together, wrap around, envelop, interweave" complicate:2

First known use: 1672

Words & Phrases Containing Complicate

complicate matters

Frequently Asked Questions about Complicate

What does "Complicate" mean?

"Complicate" means to make complex or difficult. As an a verb and an adjective, it is defined as: to make complex or difficult. It has 3 distinct senses.

What is another word for "Complicate"?

Other words for "Complicate" include complex, complexify, embarrass, entangle, perplex, sophisticate, aggravate and exacerbate. The best synonym depends on which meaning of "Complicate" you intend.

What are different ways to say "Complicate"?

There are 56 words and phrases with a similar meaning to "Complicate". Common alternatives include complex, complexify, embarrass, entangle, perplex, sophisticate, aggravate, exacerbate, worsen and baroque.

What is the opposite of "Complicate"?

Antonyms of "Complicate" include simplify, streamline, allay, alleviate, assuage, ease, help and mitigate. Near antonyms include abbreviate, cut, shorten and facilitate.

How do you use "Complicate" in a sentence?

Examples of "Complicate" in a sentence: "the need to go to both a PTA conference and condo board meeting really complicates tonight's schedule"; "asthma that has recently been complicated by a bout of bronchitis"; "the kind of complicate machinery that is used in the field of robotics".

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

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

How do you pronounce "Complicate"?

"Complicate" is pronounced /ˈkäm-plə-ˌkāt/ as a verb and /ˈkäm-pli-kət/ as an adjective and divided into syllables as com·pli·cate.

What is the origin of the word "Complicate"?

"Complicate" comes from earlier, "to fold together, intertwine, combine in an involved manner," borrowed from Medieval Latin complicātus, past participle of complicāre "to fold together, wrap around, envelop, interweave" complicate:2. First known use: 1672.