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to overcomplicate

to overcomplicate

3 5.8
Make something harder than it needs to be
  • verb
  • /ˌoʊvərˈkɒmplɪkeɪt/
translation icon : sobrecargar
  • You see, the problem with Max is she tends to overcomplicate things.
  • overcomplicate things

With our model, I think a lot of people overcomplicate the pay per click.

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Examples

  • When planning the project, let's not overcomplicate things by adding unnecessary steps.

  • Not saying that they cannot run it efficiently over time, but why overcomplicate the situation?

    Blog text (9)
  • I think we are trying to overcomplicate the issue by doing this.

    Blog text (23)
  • Football is a simple game; there is no need to overcomplicate it!

    Blog text (1)
  • I think you are all overcomplicating the problem.

    Blog text (19)
  • We are often guilty of overcomplicating matters.

    Blog text (21)
  • You are way overcomplicating this.

    Blog text (25)
  • Don't ever overcomplicate a good idea.

    Blog text (14)
  • I don't want to overcomplicate and add friction to the process.

  • Oftentimes, as newbie/novice real estate investors, we tend to overcomplicate the process.

    Blog text (21)

Synonyms

to complicate
vsto overcomplicate
101 4.1

To make something harder to understand or do

makes things harder or more confusing than they need to be
to overdo
vsto overcomplicate
58 3.6

Do something too much, more than needed

specifically makes things unnecessarily harder rather than only excess generally
to make a meal of
vsto overcomplicate
  • Informal
1 8.3

Act as if something is much more difficult or important than it is

actively adds unnecessary difficulty rather than merely overstating importance
to complexify
vsto overcomplicate
9.3

To make something harder to understand or do

creates unnecessary difficulty or confusion rather than just added parts
to make hard work of
vsto overcomplicate
  • UK
6.0

Do a simple job slowly or in the wrong way so it is much harder than needed

causes extra difficulty by unnecessary complexity rather than only inefficiency
to make heavy weather of
vsto overcomplicate
  • UK
8.2

Act as if a task is much harder than it is

actually creates extra difficulty by needless complication rather than just appearance
to muddy up
vsto overcomplicate
  • Informal
6.7

To make an idea or situation unclear and confusing

adds needless difficulty overall rather than only reducing clarity
to ravel
vsto overcomplicate
8.4

To make a situation or story more confusing

creates extra difficulty by unnecessary steps rather than simple tangling
to remuddle the issue
vsto overcomplicate
9.3

To make a problem more confusing instead of clearer

causes extra unnecessary difficulty instead of just temporary muddle
to overelaborate
vsto overcomplicate
8.1

To add too much detail and make something more complicated than needed

creates needless difficulty by complicating rather than just enlarging detail
to overdefine
vsto overcomplicate
7.5

To give too much detail when explaining something

makes things needlessly harder by complicating beyond simple definition
to overexplain
vsto overcomplicate
6.0

To give more explanation than needed and make things confusing or boring

creates unnecessary difficulty by adding excess rather than clarifying
to overexpand
vsto overcomplicate
5.3

To make writing or an answer longer than necessary

increases difficulty through unnecessary length rather than useful expansion
to overegg the pudding
vsto overcomplicate
  • UK
9.9

To add too many details and ruin something

causes needless difficulty by overdoing detail rather than improving it
to overlard
vsto overcomplicate
9.9

To put too many details or ingredients into something so it becomes bad

produces extra difficulty by overfilling rather than by purposeful design

Antonyms

99 2.5

Make something easier to understand or use

How Complicated

to overcomplicate
3 5.8
to complicate
101 4.1

Surface Forms

overcomplicate infinitive
overcomplicated past participle
overcomplicating present participle
overcomplicates third person singular

Morphology

overcomplicate = complicate (transparent) = over + complicate

The meaning is a straightforward combination of 'over-' (excessively) and 'complicate' (make complex), so learners can predict 'make excessively complicated'.

Etymology

The word overcomplicate is made of over- meaning 'too much' and complicate, which originally meant 'fold together' and is like the familiar word complex. So to overcomplicate something is to 'fold' it too much, or to make it 'too complex' and harder than it needs to be.