complicated

[ kom-pli-key-tid ]

adjective

1. composed of elaborately interconnected parts; complex:

   complicated apparatus for measuring brain functions.

2. difficult to analyze, understand, explain, etc.:

   a complicated problem.

   Synonyms: knotty, tangled, involved

complicated

/ ˈkɒmplɪˌkeɪtɪd /

adjective

1. made up of intricate parts or aspects that are difficult to understand or analyse

Derived Forms

• ˈcompliˌcatedness, noun
• ˈcompliˌcatedly, adverb

Other Words From

• compli·cated·ly adverb
• compli·cated·ness noun
• un·compli·cated adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of complicated¹

First recorded in 1640–50; complicate + -ed ²

Example Sentences

Containing the virus isn’t complicated, though it is at times unpleasant.

From Washington Post

The whole endeavor will be both financially and politically complicated.

From Popular-Science

This deadly cocktail to me consists of mixing the most complicated thing — that is, the restaurant experience — with something that is hugely defined, which is sports and competition.

From Eater

However, if you are conducting complicated technical SEO, then Core Web Vitals will definitely change the way you work in as-yet unexpected ways.

From Search Engine Watch

If you want someone else’s behavior to work for your best interests—if you want to extend your phenotype into someone else—it’s often a lot more complicated than just letting them sniff you.

From Nautilus

After the curtain calls, Christopher comes back to explain a complicated math problem.

From The Daily Beast

An examination of the complicated history of America and its movies in the Republic of Korea.

From The Daily Beast

Of course, the issue of authenticity in hip-hop is already a complicated minefield for up and coming artists.

From The Daily Beast

Making this scenario more complicated is the rivalry between al Qaeda and ISIS.

From The Daily Beast

But the history of the church, which emerged in the late '60s, is far more complicated—and fascinating.

From The Daily Beast

Aristide replaced the baby, and with a complicated arrangement of string fastened it securely to the seat.

From Project Gutenberg

He dwelt upon this contrivance, until it seemed too complicated for success.

From Project Gutenberg

And it might be a year or two before a superintendent could be found capable in every way of managing so complicated a ranch.

From Project Gutenberg

But, difficult as his task was, the situation became much more complicated by the sudden return of Bonaparte from Egypt.

From Project Gutenberg

The fact that I have known you for some time makes things far easier, far less—complicated.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• arduous
• convoluted
• difficult
• fancy
• hard
• intricate
• knotty
• perplexing
• problematic
• sophisticated
• troublesome