COMPLICATED

Pronunciation (US):

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 Dictionary entry overview: What does complicated mean? 

• COMPLICATED (adjective)
  The adjective COMPLICATED has 1 sense:

1. difficult to analyze or understand

  Familiarity information: COMPLICATED used as an adjective is very rare.

 Dictionary entry details 

• COMPLICATED (adjective)

Sense 1

Meaning:

Difficult to analyze or understand

Synonyms:

complex; complicated

Context example:

he's more complex than he seems on the surface

Similar:

complex (complicated in structure; consisting of interconnected parts)

Derivation:

complicatedness (puzzling complexity)

 Context examples 

The persistence of polystyrene in the environment may be shorter and likely more complicated than we understood.

(Sunlight degrades polystyrene faster than expected, National Science Foundation)

"Controls on ocean productivity are more complicated than light and nutrients alone," says Mike Sieracki, a program director in NSF’s Division of Ocean Sciences.

(Algae-killing viruses spur nutrient recycling in oceans, National Science Foundation)

The catabolism of these amino acids is thus slightly more complicated than glutamine or proline.

(Arginine, Histidine, Glutamate, Glutamine, and Proline Degradation Pathway, NCI Thesaurus/BIOCARTA)

Defects in genes that are involved in cilia development or function can cause complicated syndromes, called ciliopathies, that involve multiple organs and tissues.

(Protein critical to cilia development, NIH)

The new research shows that adult offspring from pregnancies complicated by chronic hypoxia – lower-than-normal oxygen levels – have increased indicators of cardiovascular disease such as high blood pressure and stiffer blood vessels.

(Heart disease risk begins in the womb, University of Cambridge)

Identifying links to viruses may help researchers learn more about the complicated biological interactions involved in Alzheimer’s, and potentially lead to new treatment strategies.

(Viruses may play a role in Alzheimer’s disease, National Institutes of Health)

E. coli, for instance, inhabits the complicated terrain of the gastrointestinal tract.

(Bacteria change behavior to tackle tiny obstacle course, National Science Foundation)

Inflammation may complicate enlarged sized due to transgenic manipulation, potentially complicated by infection

(Chronic Active Prostatitis of Mouse, NCI Thesaurus/MMHCC)

A dislocation not complicated by an external wound

(Closed Dislocation, NCI Thesaurus)

It is the most common, convenient, and usually the safest and least expensive route of drug administration, but it uses the most complicated pathway to the tissues and bioavailability varies.

(Oral Route of Administration, NCI Thesaurus)