as in to complicate
to make complex or difficult
my proposal would simplify the process, whereas yours would needlessly complexify it
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
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 complexify
Ju-yeong’s villainous backstory and present Like most of the characters in Good Boy, villain Ju-yeong doesn’t get a backstory that complexifies his actions.
—
Kayti Burt, Time, 21 July 2025
Blakely’s performance is indicative of The Private Life’s problems — the attempt to pastiche and complexify the popular understanding of this literary relationship ends up re-creating its most irritating qualities.
—Rory Doherty, Vulture, 24 Jan. 2025
But like Nichole says, there have been new complexifying factors in the meantime.
—Kathleen Newman-Bremang, refinery29.com, 31 July 2023
Rather than expand our singular viewpoint, calcified by confirmation and desirability biases, to a dualistic battle royale that may only further harden our stance, Grant suggests the solution is to explore other angles and viewpoints beyond our purview—to complexify.
—Tim Maurer, Forbes, 13 June 2021
In between the set pieces and special effects, those shows forgot about enriching and complexifying their themes.
—Wired Staff, Wired, 20 Dec. 2019
What’s the point of complexifying a straightforward election?
—Adam Rogers, WIRED, 6 June 2018
Kayti Burt, Time, 21 July 2025
Blakely’s performance is indicative of The Private Life’s problems — the attempt to pastiche and complexify the popular understanding of this literary relationship ends up re-creating its most irritating qualities.
—Rory Doherty, Vulture, 24 Jan. 2025
But like Nichole says, there have been new complexifying factors in the meantime.
—Kathleen Newman-Bremang, refinery29.com, 31 July 2023
Rather than expand our singular viewpoint, calcified by confirmation and desirability biases, to a dualistic battle royale that may only further harden our stance, Grant suggests the solution is to explore other angles and viewpoints beyond our purview—to complexify.
—Tim Maurer, Forbes, 13 June 2021
In between the set pieces and special effects, those shows forgot about enriching and complexifying their themes.
—Wired Staff, Wired, 20 Dec. 2019
What’s the point of complexifying a straightforward election?
—Adam Rogers, WIRED, 6 June 2018
Recent Examples of Synonyms for complexify
Verb
-
Concerns about the injury complicated his evaluation.—
Jeff Howe,
New York Times,
25 Apr. 2026
-
This year that quarterback-in-waiting is Alabama’s Ty Simpson, a talented and smart player whose evaluation is complicated by injury struggles, as well as a lack of starting experience and consistency.—
Andrew Greif,
NBC news,
24 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
The shooting has also intensified calls by conservatives to fully fund DHS through a single bill — blaming Democrats for the shutdown and arguing that splitting apart ICE and Border Patrol funding will only give the minority party leverage.—
Mike Lillis,
The Hill,
28 Apr. 2026
-
Instead, the slight thaw suggests a more modest agenda that the countries should now pursue, one that acknowledges that tensions between them over fundamental issues — trade, technology, global status — are more likely to intensify than abate.—
Andy Browne,
semafor.com,
28 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Complexify.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/complexify. Accessed 2 May. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
