complicate

American  

[kom-pli-keyt, kom-pli-kit] / ˈkɒm plɪˌkeɪt, ˈkɒm plɪ kɪt /

verb (used with object)

complicated, complicating

1. to make complex, intricate, involved, or difficult.

   His recovery from the operation was complicated by an allergic reaction.

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adjective

1. complex; involved.

2. Entomology. folded longitudinally one or more times, as the wings of certain insects.

complicate British  

verb

1. to make or become complex

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adjective

1. biology folded on itself

   a complicate leaf

2. a less common word for complicated

Other Word Forms

• overcomplicate verb (used with object)
• precomplicate verb (used with object)
• recomplicate verb (used with object)
• uncomplicate verb (used with object)

Etymology

Origin of complicate

1615–25; < Latin complicātus (past participle of complicāre to fold together), equivalent to com- com- + -plic- (combining form of *plecāre to fold, akin to plectī to plait; complex ) + -ātus -ate ¹

Example Sentences

The recent government shutdown complicated the efforts of economists to decipher where the economy is heading, depriving them of some government-collected data they need to read the tea leaves.

From The Wall Street Journal

The process of making it is scientific and complicated.

From BBC

The truly complicated part was talking his players through the end of a season when several position coaches have both feet out the door.

From The Wall Street Journal

Maybe because I’m a Black woman, so my presence or my identity for some people will complicate the story.

From Los Angeles Times

“With gaps in October and monthly inflation data complicating the trend assessment, market participants hesitated to extrapolate a clear disinflation narrative,” he said.

From Barron's

Related Words

• convolute
• impede
• involve
• muddle
• obscure
• perplex
• upset