3 syllables: com, pli, cate. Stress on com.
KAHM-pluh-kayt
/ˈkɑmpləˌkeɪt/
complicate is pronounced KAHM-pluh-kayt (/ˈkɑmpləˌkeɪt/). It has three syllables (com-pli-cate), with the stress on "com". Complicate is a verb meaning to make something more intricate, difficult, or confusing. It describes actions or events that add complexity, often creating additional problems or uncertainties. In usage, it can imply introducing complications that hinder straightforward understanding or resolution.
Complicate is a verb meaning to make something more intricate, difficult, or confusing. It describes actions or events that add complexity, often creating additional problems or uncertainties. In usage, it can imply introducing complications that hinder straightforward understanding or resolution.
"Excessive bureaucracy can complicate even simple tasks."
"The new policy may complicate how we submit expense reports."
"He didn’t want to complicate the situation, so he chose a cautious approach."
Pronounce as /ˈkɒm.plɪ.keɪt/ in US/UK. The primary stress is on the first syllable: COM-pli-cate. The middle syllable uses a short /ɪ/ as in ‘sit’, and the final syllable is /keɪt/ with a long /eɪ/ glide. Mouth position: start with lip-relaxed, back of tongue raised for /k/, then a short /ɒ/ or /ɒ/ vowel, followed by /m/ with closed lips, /pl/ cluster, and end with /eɪt/ formed by a slow glide from /e/ to /ɪ/ toward /t/. You’ll hear a crisp final /t/ in careful speech.
Common errors: 1) Misplacing stress, saying com-PLI-cate or com-plI-cate too evenly; restore primary stress on first syllable. 2) Slurring /plɪ/ into a single sound, causing ‘com-pli-cate’ to run together; practice with a light lifting vowel between /m/ and /l/. 3) Final /t/ not aspirated; ensure a brief voiceless stop at the end. Correct by saying COM-pli-cate with a sharp, audible /t/ and a clear /keɪt/ ending.
US/UK/AU all share /ˈkɒm.plɪ.keɪt/ but rhotics affect surrounding vowels; US typically rhotic, lightly flattening /ɒ/ to /ɑ/ in some dialects and producing a more pronounced /r/ after vowels elsewhere is not directly affected in this word; AU often features a slightly broader vowel quality and less pronounced /t/ envelope in casual speech. The key differences lie in vowel quality of /ɒ/ (US often /ɑ/ in many dialects) and the clarity of /t/; careful speech preserves /t/ rather than a glottal stop.
Difficulties center on the consonant cluster /pl/ and the final /keɪt/. Coarticulation makes /m/ and /p/ overlap, sometimes causing a subtle “blink” sound between /m/ and /l/. The final /eɪt/ requires a controlled glide from /e/ into /ɪ/ and a crisp /t/ release, which can be challenging when the preceding /ɪ/ is quick. Focus on separating /m/, /p/, /l/ cleanly and finishing with a clear /keɪt/.
There is no silent letter in complicate. Every letter corresponds to a phoneme in careful speech: /k/ as in ‘cat’, /m/ as in ‘mom’, /p/ as in ‘pin’, /l/ as in ‘let’, /ɪ/ as in ‘sit’, /keɪt/ as in ‘kate’. The challenge is not silence but accurate articulation of the /pl/ consonant cluster and the final /t/ after a long /eɪ/ glide.
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Complicate comes from the Latin complicare, meaning to fold together or interweave, itself from com- (together) + plicare (to fold). The sense evolved through Middle English as complicaten, then complicate, reflecting weaving of elements into a more complex state. The core idea of twisting or folding into multiple parts remained constant, but the usage broadened from literal physical folding to abstract complexity in tasks, plans, or explanations. The earliest attestations in English appear in the 16th century, with evolving nuance toward social, procedural, and intellectual entanglements in discourse. Over time, complicate acquired a common sense of creating impediments or adding obstacles, often implying avoidable or unnecessary complexity in modern contexts.
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💡 These words have similar meanings to "complicate" and can often be used interchangeably.
🔄 These words have opposite meanings to "complicate" and show contrast in usage.
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Words that rhyme with "complicate"
-ate sounds
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