complicate

/ˈkɑmplɪkeɪt/

//ˈkɑmplɪkeɪt// verb

By · According to Wiktionary data (CC BY-SA) ·

"complicate" is a 10-letter English headword indexed on PlainSpell.

The verdict

“complicate” has 15 generated spelling variants in the English index at frequency #20,593. The variants make it a useful spelling check.

#20,593
frequency rank, English
5,599
“C” headwords
15
tracked misspellings
3
confusable pairs

According to Wiktionary data (CC BY-SA, analyzed September 3, 2026) - To make complex; to modify so as to make something intricate or difficult.

Corpus desk

Index EN-complicate · complicate · English

complicate · rank #20,593 · 15 variants · 3 confusables

  • FREQ-MID #20,593
  • LEN-MEGA 10 letters
  • VOW-4 4 vowels
  • CONFUS-LOW 3 pairs
  • VAR-HIGH 15 variants
  • BOOK-DENSE 5,599
  • PHOTO-FINISH concerto

Nearest frequency peer: concerto (+1 rank slots)

Read with this headword: Spelling guide for this pattern

Desk codes from Wiktionary headword shape, FrequencyWords rank tier, confusable-pair count, generated misspelling depth, letter-cohort book size, and photo-finish peer. Not a difficulty grade.

Rank peers near misspelling magnet “complicate”

Same rarity band: useful when a typo lands on a peer headword

corpus weight

What this shows “complicate” sits among these FrequencyWords peers; misspelling depth is tracked separately in the edit-distance chart.

Source FrequencyWords open word-frequency list As of September 3, 2026

Visual similarity to commonly confused words

How many letter changes separate each confused pair (Levenshtein distance, normalized).

complicate vs complicit
80% similar
complicate vs complicity
80% similar
complicate vs complicated
91% similar

Source: PlainSpell confusable corpus (Wiktionary, CC BY-SA).

Key facts for complicate
PropertyValue
Headwordcomplicate
LanguageEnglish
Part of speechVerb
IPA/ˈkɑmplɪkeɪt/
Letters10
Frequency rank#20,593
Misspellings tracked15
Confusable pairs3
SourceWiktionary (kaikki.org)

Frequency seat of misspelling magnet “complicate”

Word frequency stretches from the small set of words we reach for constantly (left) out to the long tail barely used once in a while (right).complicatelands here:

#1#100#1K#10K#100K
← used constantlyrarely used →

Scale is logarithmic (each tick is 10× rarer). Same rarity band neighbours include “concerto” (#20,594), “concurrently” (#20,595), “coli” (#20,590). Among 5,599 “C” headwords, “complicate” is #20,593. Source: FrequencyWords open word-frequency list.

A misspelling magnet

The generator records 15 spelling variants around complicate (IPA /ˈkɑmplɪkeɪt/), averb. Corpus frequency is #20,593 among 5,599 “C” headwords. Wiktionary lists 3 senses, so context still picks the gloss.

Our generated misspelling index lists 15 likely wrong-spelling variants for complicate, with forms such as "ccomplicate", "cmoplicate", and "comlpicate". Each variant is a distinct typo pattern an edit-distance generator flags, typically a doubled-consonant error, a silent-letter drop, or a vowel substitution. It also participates in 3 confusable-pair relationships, "complicit", "complicity", "complicated", where similar look or sound leads writers to substitute one word for another in context.

Etymologically, the entry records: First attested in the early 17ᵗʰ century; borrowed from Latin complicātus, perfect passive participle of complicō (“to fold together”) (see -ate (verb-forming suffix) and -ate (adjective-forming suffix)), from con- (“together”) + plicō (“to fold, weave, kni… The correct English form is complicate, spelled C-O-M-P-L-I-C-A-T-E.

Definition

  1. 1
    To make complex; to modify so as to make something intricate or difficult.
  2. 2
    To involve in a convoluted matter.
  3. 3
    To coexist with (another disease) creating a complication.

Recorded use

Wiktionary examples

These source excerpts show how complicate appears in context. They illustrate usage; the definition above remains the entry’s reference meaning.

  1. Let us, however, put aside for the moment the mendacities and forgeries which complicate the question of Lucifer, and let us approach Palladism from an altogether different side.
  2. Don't complicate yourself in issues that are beyond the scope of your understanding.

Etymology

First attested in the early 17ᵗʰ century; borrowed from Latin complicātus, perfect passive participle of complicō (“to fold together”) (see -ate (verb-forming suffix) and -ate (adjective-forming suffix)), from con- (“together”) + plicō (“to fold, weave, knit”); see plaid, and compare complex. See also Middle English complicate (“involved”).

Synonyms

intricateentangleembroilinvolvemix upmirecomplexcomplexifycomplicatecomplifyconfuscatedesimplifyelaboratejazzmake a meal ofperplex

Antonyms

decomplexifysimplifyuncomplicate

This word in other languages

complicar(Español)compliquer(Français)komplizieren(Deutsch)complicar(Português)

Common misspellings

Also misspelled as:

  • ccomplicate
  • cmoplicate
  • comlpicate
  • commplicate
  • compilcate
  • complciate
  • compliacte
  • complicaet
  • complicatte
  • compliccate
  • complictae
  • compllicate
  • compplicate
  • copmlicate
  • ocmplicate

Misspelling Pattern Breakdown

How far each generated variant is from the correct spelling of complicate - expressed in single-character edits (insert, delete, or swap one letter). Bigger bars stand out at a glance; a one-edit slip is the hardest to catch.

ccomplicate1cmoplicate2comlpicate2commplicate1compilcate2complciate2compliacte2complicaet2
Edit distance from "complicate"

Definitions, pronunciation, and etymology for this entry are drawn from Wiktionary via the kaikki.org structured extract (CC BY-SA); frequency ordering uses the FrequencyWords open word-frequency list (2018 English corpus, MIT). See the methodology for how each field is sourced and updated.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do you spell "complicate"?
"complicate" is spelled C-O-M-P-L-I-C-A-T-E. The IPA pronunciation is /ˈkɑmplɪkeɪt/.
What does "complicate" mean?
As a verb, "complicate" means: To make complex; to modify so as to make something intricate or difficult.
What words are commonly confused with "complicate"?
"complicate" is commonly confused with "complicit", "complicity", "complicated". These words look or sound similar but have different meanings. PlainSpell provides detailed comparisons for each pair.
How do you pronounce "complicate"?
The IPA (International Phonetic Alphabet) transcription for "complicate" is /ˈkɑmplɪkeɪt/. Click the speaker icon on the pronunciation badge above to hear it spoken aloud where audio is available.
What is the origin of the word "complicate"?
First attested in the early 17ᵗʰ century; borrowed from Latin complicātus, perfect passive participle of complicō (“to fold together”) (see -ate (verb-forming suffix) and -ate (adjective-forming suffix)), from con- (“together”) + plicō (“to fold, ... See the full etymology section above for more details.
Is PlainSpell free to use?
Yes, PlainSpell is a completely free word reference. You can look up definitions, pronunciations, confusable pairs, homophones, and spelling corrections across 5 languages without any sign-up or subscription.

Similar English words by spelling shape

Same letter count and similar misspelling depth for "complicate", not the corpus desk frequency band.

Same letter count

Frequency-ranked English headwords with 10 letters (nearest by frequency rank).

dehydrated#20,605blacksmith#20,572assortment#20,559forcefully#20,639

Similar misspelling depth

Headwords with a similar count of attested misspellings (15 here; floor ≥5).

cleanliness15 variantsantiquities15 variantsforeground15 variantsunsuitable15 variants

Source: Wiktionary (via kaikki.org) Structured Wiktionary extract

Source: FrequencyWords open word-frequency list