COMPLICATING Synonyms: 44 Similar and Opposite Words

complicating

verb

present participle of complicate

as in intensifying

to make complex or difficult the need to go to both a PTA conference and condo board meeting really complicates tonight's schedule

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in deepening

to make more severe asthma that has recently been complicated by a bout of bronchitis

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Recent Examples of complicating The federal government has transferred many detainees to some of the nation’s largest detention facilities in Louisiana and Mississippi, complicating their legal representation and crowding the dockets in those states. — Carla Astudillo, ProPublica, 3 Sep. 2026 The remote ranch’s hallmark isolation is now complicating recovery efforts. — Chris Boyette, CNN Money, 3 Sep. 2026 Other complicating factors can include things like child custody, income, housing and other circumstances that can make domestic survivors feel stuck. — Justin Muszynski, Hartford Courant, 31 Aug. 2026 Bond yields Persistent inflation, tariffs and whipsawing gas prices are not the only obstacles complicating the task for the Fed. — Brian Cheung, NBC news, 28 Aug. 2026 Nepalese officials said that dozens of bridges were destroyed and nearly 40 kilometers (25 miles) of roads were damaged, complicating search efforts. — Shristi Kafle, Fortune, 27 Aug. 2026 Nepalese officials said that dozens of bridges were destroyed and nearly 25 miles of roads were damaged, complicating search efforts. — Niranjan Shrestha, Los Angeles Times, 27 Aug. 2026 But regional pipeline politics have proved tricky in the past, complicating relations between, among other states, Iraq and Turkey, and Qatar and Saudi Arabia. — Dina Esfandiary, Foreign Affairs, 27 Aug. 2026 Miller said further complicating the issue is that labeling the country of origin is optional. — Dawn White, CBS News, 27 Aug. 2026

Recent Examples of Synonyms for complicating

Verb

Richard Engel is back in Ukraine to report on its intensifying war with Russia, with a strike this weekend on a warehouse west of Kyiv becoming its deadliest attack this year — more than 38 people were killed.

— NBC News, NBC news, 1 Sep. 2026
Bumpy road ahead Beyond political scrutiny, intensifying competition has also added to the company’s struggles in recent years.

— John Liu, CNN Money, 31 Aug. 2026

Definition of intensifying

Verb

Brent crude climbed back above $90 a barrel and gasoline stayed over $4 a gallon all month, deepening inflation pressures and sharpening expectations the Federal Reserve will raise interest rates again.

— Damian J. Troise, Los Angeles Times, 31 Aug. 2026
Salesforce ‘s deepening push into artificial intelligence is showing signs of paying off, and that should continue to benefit its stock, according to Goldman Sachs.

— Liz Napolitano, CNBC, 27 Aug. 2026

Definition of deepening

Verb

Gibson Nash, 21, was charged with first-degree murder after a series of perplexing events eventually led police to his mother’s bloodied body.

— Natasha Holt, FOXNews.com, 9 Aug. 2026
But there were also perplexing moments that punctured the gravitas of the event (even for an event built around hand-to-hand combat).

— Alex Weprin, HollywoodReporter, 15 June 2026

Definition of perplexing

Verb

The comprehensive regimen is meant to uncover any prior criminal conduct in an applicant’s past as well as embarrassing personal information that could make an employee vulnerable to blackmail.

— Eric Tucker, Fortune, 29 Aug. 2026
Since then, Hochman has been slammed for playing politics, embarrassing his office and even backing down for no reason other than the pressure was too intense.

— Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 28 Aug. 2026

Definition of embarrassing

Verb

Sacramento Superior Court jurors also found true allegations of aggravating factors and a sentencing enhancement for multiple victims, prosecutors said.

— Darrell Smith, Sacbee.com, 31 Aug. 2026
Beyond that, Simmons recalls how this season in particular, which saw one contestant leave midway through for medical reasons after aggravating an injury, was particularly difficult.

— Hilary Lewis for The Hollywood Reporter, Robb Report, 27 Aug. 2026

Definition of aggravating

Verb

As Bruno departs for Venice, desire persists across oceans, entangling a Spinozist professor and rival passions.

— Marta Balaga, Variety, 17 July 2026
When that quantum task involved entangling qubits, quantum computers had an advantage over classical computers, as the classical program took ages to run.

— Quanta Magazine, Quanta Magazine, 3 June 2026

Definition of entangling

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complicates

complicating

complication

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“Complicating.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/complicating. Accessed 4 Sep. 2026.

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Synonyms of complicating

verb

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