complicate matters

phrase

: to make a situation more complicated
To (further) complicate matters, they both have the same name.

Examples of complicate matters in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
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.
Selecting the appropriate one for changing season conditions can further complicate matters when cooler nights create colder ground, and without the right sleeping pad, that cooler substrate beneath you can translate to a cooler night’s sleep. — Clay Abney, Travel + Leisure, 27 Aug. 2026 To further complicate matters, the FISA court system, meant to serve as a check on executive power, served more as a rubber stamp. — Tracy Grant, Encyclopedia Britannica, 21 Aug. 2026 To further complicate matters, our natural response to heat—applying more water—can compound the problem. — Kim Toscano, Southern Living, 21 Aug. 2026 Every company has different needs, streams, sites​ and regulatory environments that complicate matters further and that no algorithm can replicate exactly. — John F. McQuillan, Forbes.com, 12 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for complicate matters

Rhymes for complicate matters

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Browse Nearby Words

complicatedness
complicate matters
complicateness
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Cite this Entry

“Complicate matters.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/complicate%20matters. Accessed 1 Sep. 2026.

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