complicare

to complicate

verb kohm-plee-KAH-reh Rare

Usage Note

Complicare means to make something more difficult or complex; the reflexive complicarsi means 'to become complicated' (le cose si complicano = 'things are getting complicated'). The past participle complicato doubles as an adjective meaning 'complicated'. It takes avere as auxiliary in the transitive. Learners should note it is not a reflexive verb in the simple sense — complicarsi changes the subject to the situation itself.

Examples

"Non vuole complicare ulteriormente la situazione."

Natural Translation

He does not want to complicate the situation further.

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