complicate

[ verb kom-pli-keyt; adjective kom-pli-kit ]

verb (used with object)

, com·pli·cat·ed, com·pli·cat·ing.

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

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

adjective

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

complicate

verb

1. to make or become complex

adjective

1. biology folded on itself

   a complicate leaf

2. a less common word for complicated

Other Words From

• o·ver·com·pli·cate verb (used with object) overcomplicated overcomplicating
• pre·com·pli·cate verb (used with object) precomplicated precomplicating
• re·com·pli·cate verb (used with object) recomplicated recomplicating
• un·com·pli·cate verb (used with object) uncomplicated uncomplicating

Word History and Origins

Origin of complicate¹

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

Word History and Origins

Origin of complicate¹

C17: from Latin complicāre to fold together, from plicāre to fold

Example Sentences

Further complicating matters, cell density constantly shifted as cells proliferated at ever changing rates -- interacting in complex ways with the synNotch genetic circuit.

From Science Daily

"Getting more parks and trees into cities is complicated work, and I realised that a simple metric could take the mystery out of it and set a proper benchmark based on evidence," he said.

From Science Daily

Along the way, we spoke to migrants who shared their complicated reasons for putting their lives in the hands of people smugglers.

From BBC

It’s billed as an answer to the purported complexity of Medicaid, but makes the system more complicated for enrollees and administrators.

From Los Angeles Times

Repatriating human remains is more complicated than returning artefacts.

From BBC

Related Words

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