complicate
/ˈkɒmplɪkeɪt
/verb [with object]
1Make (something) more complicated: increased choice will complicate matters for the consumer (as adjective complicating) a complicating factor...
- There are a number of factors which complicate choices about smallpox either for governments or for individuals.
- The first factor complicating the fight against doping, he said, is the imperfect art of testing.
- One of the factors complicating the adjustment of the Hmong people has been English language acquisition.
Synonyms
make (more) difficult, make complex, make complicated, mix up;
confuse, muddle, entangle, embroil
informal mess up, snarl up, screw up
archaic perplex, embarrass
rare ravel
1.1 Medicine Introduce complications in (an existing condition): smoking may complicate pregnancy (as adjective complicating) patients with complicating biliary calculi...
- Pregnancy is not an absolute contraindication to travel unless complicated by an unstable medical condition or impending labor.
- Respiratory failure frequently complicates the condition of children who have sustained traumatic injury.
- Women with preterm delivery and pregnancies complicated by hemoglobinopathies, hypertension, or multiple gestation were excluded.
Origin
Early 17th century (in the sense 'combine, entangle, intertwine'): from Latin complicat- 'folded together', from the verb complicare, from com- 'together' + plicare 'to fold'.
- comber
- combfish
- combi
- combinable
- combination
- Combination Act
- combinational
- combinational circuit
- combination lock
- combination oven
- combination skin
- combination therapy
- combinative
- combinatorial
- combinatorial chemistry
- combinatorially
- combinatorics
- combinatory
- combine
- combined pill
- combine harvester
- combiner
- combings
- combing wool
- combining form