B2adjective2K

Complicated

UK /["/ˈkɒmplɪkeɪtɪd/"]/US /["/ˈkɑːmplɪkeɪtɪd/"]/

Definition

made of many different things or parts that are connected; difficult to understand

In simple words: Something that is difficult to understand or deal with.

Examples

  • The instructions for assembling the furniture were too complicated for me to follow.
  • Her feelings about the situation were complicated; she wasn't sure how to express them.
  • He found the mathematics problem to be quite complicated and time-consuming.
  • The relationship between the two countries is complicated due to historical conflicts.
  • Complicated algorithms can be challenging to implement in software development.

Usage notes

Use 'complicated' when describing things that have many parts or are hard to follow. Avoid it in very casual contexts; simpler words like 'hard' may fit better.

Grammar pattern

standalone adjective

Memory hint

Think of 'complicated' as 'com-plicated' — it has many pieces.

Collocations

  • be
  • look
  • seem
  • extremely
  • fairly
  • very

Synonyms

  • complex

Antonyms

  • simple
  • easy
  • straightforward

Common mistakes

  • Confusing 'complicated' with 'complex' — they have similar meanings but may be used differently.
  • Using 'complicated' for simple tasks — it's better for things that genuinely have many steps.