Complicate
verb
To make something more difficult or confusing.
His sudden arrival has complicated matters.
Often appears as...
- complicate matters
- complicate things
verb
To add details to something, often in a way that is needless and makes it harder to understand.
You're complicating the story by adding all these unnecessary details.
Often appears as...
- complicate the story
- complicate the explanation
Usage tips
Disapproving
verb
In medicine, when a disease or condition complicates a patient's situation, it makes an existing medical condition worse or harder to treat.
Her recovery was complicated by a persistent infection.
Often appears as...
- complicate the recovery
- complicate the treatment
Usage tips
Technical
verb
To make something more difficult or confusing.
His sudden arrival has complicated matters.
Often appears as...
- complicate matters
- complicate things
verb
To add details to something, often in a way that is needless and makes it harder to understand.
You're complicating the story by adding all these unnecessary details.
Often appears as...
- complicate the story
- complicate the explanation
Usage tips
Disapproving
verb
In medicine, when a disease or condition complicates a patient's situation, it makes an existing medical condition worse or harder to treat.
Her recovery was complicated by a persistent infection.
Often appears as...
- complicate the recovery
- complicate the treatment
Usage tips
Technical
Definition 1 of 3
Pro Tip 1/3Context Matters
'Complicate' often appears in discussions where problems or challenges are present.
Bringing up past issues may complicate our negotiation.
Pro Tip 2/3Negative Connotation
Using 'complicate' suggests that an action has a negative impact, making things less straightforward.
Doing last-minute changes will complicate our project.
Pro Tip 3/3Emotional Implications
'Complicate' can imply frustration or concern about the increased difficulty.
Please, don't complicate my feelings right now.
Pro Tip 1/3Context Matters
'Complicate' often appears in discussions where problems or challenges are present.
Bringing up past issues may complicate our negotiation.
Pro Tip 2/3Negative Connotation
Using 'complicate' suggests that an action has a negative impact, making things less straightforward.
Doing last-minute changes will complicate our project.
Pro Tip 3/3Emotional Implications
'Complicate' can imply frustration or concern about the increased difficulty.
Please, don't complicate my feelings right now.
Pro Tip 1/3Context Matters
'Complicate' often appears in discussions where problems or challenges are present.
Bringing up past issues may complicate our negotiation.
Pro Tip 2/3Negative Connotation
Using 'complicate' suggests that an action has a negative impact, making things less straightforward.
Doing last-minute changes will complicate our project.
Pro Tip 3/3Emotional Implications
'Complicate' can imply frustration or concern about the increased difficulty.
Please, don't complicate my feelings right now.
Never forget "Complicate"
Humans forget easily. That's why you should download WordUp: Smart reminders, word games, AI practice, and much more!
Video examples
A message of peace, hope...
scriptures and so forth it's sometimes it gets complicated right I mean you you I kind of have to ask you this because I'll get killed up afterwards for not asking here you got involved in this fad gosh a couple decades ago about Salman Rushdie and you were reported as having supporting the fatwa against him I mean
Video examples
How does anesthesia...
Anesthesia is complicated, but figuring out how to use it allowed for the development of new and better surgical techniques. Surgeons could learn how to routinely and safely perform C-sections, reopen blocked arteries, replace damaged livers and kidneys, and many other life-saving operations.
Video examples
The secrets of Mozart’s...
That's when his world and notions of good and evil get turned on their heads. And good and evil are just two of the opera's extreme opposites. It features some of the highest and lowest notes in opera, day and night, simple hummable melodies and complicated forward-looking music.
Video examples
How does cancer spread...
Today, we know that both theories contain valuable truths. Yet the full stories of metastasis is much more complicated than either of the two proposed theories. Factors like the cancer cell's properties, and the effectiveness of the immune system in eliminating the cancer cells,
Video examples
What happens when you...
How dangerous are all those concussions? The answer is complicated, and lies in how the brain responds when something strikes it. The brain is made of soft fatty tissue, with a consistency something like jello. Inside its protective membranes and the skull's hard casing,
Video examples
Why the buildings of the...
It's expensive, it takes a long time, and it's very complicated. And the people that build things -- developers and governments -- they're naturally afraid of innovation, and they'd rather just use those forms that they know you'll respond to.
Video examples
What makes something...
are made clear to him. This sort of scenario is considered so characteristic of Kafka's work that scholars came up with a new word for it. Kafkaesque has entered the vernacular to describe unnecessarily complicated and frustrating experiences,
Video examples
How does your body...
highly fluctuates during infancy and childhood. And that's just one of many complicating factors. Genetics, age, diet, disease, and even pregnancy influence the body's efficiency of processing medicine.
Video examples
Understanding the Lives...
hunting in groups and the answer there is no is it because they can raise their cubs more successfully and the answer to that is yes but it's a complicated answer the real reason why lions live in
Video examples
Nature's Greatest...
with his fan unfurled he begins an ever more complicated series of dance moves to try and seduce her at last she succumbs to his advances and
Video examples
A message of peace, hope...
scriptures and so forth it's sometimes it gets complicated right I mean you you I kind of have to ask you this because I'll get killed up afterwards for not asking here you got involved in this fad gosh a couple decades ago about Salman Rushdie and you were reported as having supporting the fatwa against him I mean
Video examples
How does anesthesia...
Anesthesia is complicated, but figuring out how to use it allowed for the development of new and better surgical techniques. Surgeons could learn how to routinely and safely perform C-sections, reopen blocked arteries, replace damaged livers and kidneys, and many other life-saving operations.
Video examples
The secrets of Mozart’s...
That's when his world and notions of good and evil get turned on their heads. And good and evil are just two of the opera's extreme opposites. It features some of the highest and lowest notes in opera, day and night, simple hummable melodies and complicated forward-looking music.
Video examples
How does cancer spread...
Today, we know that both theories contain valuable truths. Yet the full stories of metastasis is much more complicated than either of the two proposed theories. Factors like the cancer cell's properties, and the effectiveness of the immune system in eliminating the cancer cells,
Video examples
What happens when you...
How dangerous are all those concussions? The answer is complicated, and lies in how the brain responds when something strikes it. The brain is made of soft fatty tissue, with a consistency something like jello. Inside its protective membranes and the skull's hard casing,
Video examples
Why the buildings of the...
It's expensive, it takes a long time, and it's very complicated. And the people that build things -- developers and governments -- they're naturally afraid of innovation, and they'd rather just use those forms that they know you'll respond to.
Video examples
What makes something...
are made clear to him. This sort of scenario is considered so characteristic of Kafka's work that scholars came up with a new word for it. Kafkaesque has entered the vernacular to describe unnecessarily complicated and frustrating experiences,
Video examples
How does your body...
highly fluctuates during infancy and childhood. And that's just one of many complicating factors. Genetics, age, diet, disease, and even pregnancy influence the body's efficiency of processing medicine.
Video examples
Understanding the Lives...
hunting in groups and the answer there is no is it because they can raise their cubs more successfully and the answer to that is yes but it's a complicated answer the real reason why lions live in
Video examples
Nature's Greatest...
with his fan unfurled he begins an ever more complicated series of dance moves to try and seduce her at last she succumbs to his advances and
Example 1 of 10
Quote examples
Future
American Musician
I'm just really a free spirit. You gotta be like that. 'Cause life ain't that complicated. It's only that complicated when you make it that way. I just wanna wake up and move with the way it goes. If it's meant to happen, it will happen.
Quote examples
Paul Watson
Canadian Environmentalist
You don't get anywhere unless you've had a little bit of a complicated life.
Quote examples
Johnny Lever
Indian Actor
I focus on my work while some people unnecessarily complicate life.
Quote examples
Confucius
Chinese Philosopher
Life is really simple, but we insist on making it complicated.
Quote examples
Eleanor Roosevelt
American First Lady
I'm so glad I never feel important, it does complicate life!
Quote examples
Jack Ma
Chinese Businessman
A peace talk is always difficult, always complicated.
Quote examples
Judy Norton
Go back to the basics as life gets more complicated.
Quote examples
Fabio Lanzoni
Italian Actor
People tend to complicate things in life.
Quote examples
Greg Kinnear
American Actor
I like complicated characters.
Quote examples
Robert Ludlum
American Novelist
Life is extremely complicated.
Quote examples
Future
American Musician
I'm just really a free spirit. You gotta be like that. 'Cause life ain't that complicated. It's only that complicated when you make it that way. I just wanna wake up and move with the way it goes. If it's meant to happen, it will happen.
Quote examples
Paul Watson
Canadian Environmentalist
You don't get anywhere unless you've had a little bit of a complicated life.
Quote examples
Johnny Lever
Indian Actor
I focus on my work while some people unnecessarily complicate life.
Quote examples
Confucius
Chinese Philosopher
Life is really simple, but we insist on making it complicated.
Quote examples
Eleanor Roosevelt
American First Lady
I'm so glad I never feel important, it does complicate life!
Quote examples
Jack Ma
Chinese Businessman
A peace talk is always difficult, always complicated.
Quote examples
Judy Norton
Go back to the basics as life gets more complicated.
Quote examples
Fabio Lanzoni
Italian Actor
People tend to complicate things in life.
Quote examples
Greg Kinnear
American Actor
I like complicated characters.
Quote examples
Robert Ludlum
American Novelist
Life is extremely complicated.
Example 1 of 10
WordUp Chrome Extension
As you browse the web instantly look up words you don’t know.
Get Chrome Extension