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complicateto make something more difficult to understand or deal with

Part of speech: VERB

Definition: to make something more difficult to understand or deal with

Pronunciation (IPA): /ˈkɑːmplɪkeɪt/

Example Sentences

  • My mom tried to help with my homework, but she only complicated things by explaining calculus when I was doing basic math.
  • Adding too many apps to your phone will complicate your daily routine.
  • He managed to complicate ordering pizza by asking for 15 different toppings on each slice.

complicate

VERB

[/ˈkɑːmplɪkeɪt/]

to make something more difficult to understand or deal with

One extra rule from the boss complicates the entire team's simple plan.
💡 Concept

One extra rule from the boss complicates the entire team's simple plan.

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🎤Pronunciation

🇺🇸 US/ˈkɑːmplɪkeɪt/
🇬🇧 UK/ˈkɒmplɪkeɪt/

🌳Etymology

Prefixcom--
Rootplic
Suffix--ate

Origin

The word derives from Latin complicare, formed from the combination of com- (together) and plicare (to fold). The literal sense of 'folding together' evolved metaphorically to mean 'to make complex or difficult'.

Breakdown

com- (together) + plicare (to fold) = to fold together, ultimately meaning to make intricate or complex.

🎵Rhyme

dedicateindicatecommunicate
dedicate
indicate
communicate

🔗Collocations

complicate matters
complicate the situation
unnecessarily complicate
complicate the process
further complicate

📝Examples

😄 Fun example

My mom tried to help with my homework, but she only complicated things by explaining calculus when I was doing basic math.

Adding too many apps to your phone will complicate your daily routine.

😄 Fun example

He managed to complicate ordering pizza by asking for 15 different toppings on each slice.

Don't complicate the meeting by bringing up unrelated topics.

📚Related Words

Synonyms

confuseperplexentanglemuddle

Antonyms

simplifyclarifystreamline

Related

complexcomplicatedcomplexitycomplication

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