complicate matters
idiom
: 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
Old conversations resurface, not to complicate matters, but to bring closure or understanding.
—
Valerie Mesa, PEOPLE, 7 Jan. 2026
To complicate matters, my daughter, who had declined the original trip, suddenly wanted in.
—Tom Vanderbilt, Travel + Leisure, 31 Dec. 2025
However, their use of a third-party for claims processing can complicate matters.
—Alora Bopray, USA Today, 30 Dec. 2025
Some seeds complicate matters by producing a hard seed coat that does not allow water to get into the seed.
—Paul Cappiello, Louisville Courier Journal, 21 Nov. 2025
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Cite this Entry
“Complicate matters.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/complicate%20matters. Accessed 20 Jan. 2026.
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