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Inscrutable vs Complex - What's the difference?

inscrutable | complex |

As adjectives the difference between inscrutable and complex

is that inscrutable is difficult or impossible to comprehend, fathom or interpret while complex is made up of multiple parts; composite; not simple.

As nouns the difference between inscrutable and complex

is that inscrutable is one who or that which is inscrutable; a person, etc that cannot be comprehended while complex is a problem.

As a verb complex is

(chemistry|intransitive) to form a complex with another substance.

inscrutable

English

Adjective

(en adjective)
  • Difficult or impossible to comprehend, fathom or interpret.
  • His inscrutable theories would years later become the foundation of a whole new science.
  • * 2007 , Tracy Jordan'' (Tracy Morgan), ''30 Rock :
  • She called my vanity license plate inscrutable ! 'ICU81MI'? Hilarious!

    Synonyms

    * (difficult to comprehend) ineffable

    Derived terms

    * inscrutability * inscrutableness * inscrutably

    See also

    * inexplorable

    Noun

    (en noun)
  • One who or that which is inscrutable; a person, etc. that cannot be comprehended.
  • complex

    Adjective

    (complex number) (en adjective)
  • Made up of multiple parts; composite; not simple.
  • a complex''' being; a '''complex idea
  • * John Locke
  • Ideas thus made up of several simple ones put together, I call complex ; such as beauty, gratitude, a man, an army, the universe.
  • Not simple, easy, or straightforward; complicated.
  • * Whewell
  • When the actual motions of the heavens are calculated in the best possible way, the process is difficult and complex .
  • (mathematics) Of a number, of the form a + bi'', where ''a'' and ''b'' are real numbers and ''i is a square root of −1.
  • complex function
  • (geometry) A curve, polygon or other figure that crosses or intersects itself.
  • Synonyms

    * (not simple) complicated, detailed, difficult, hard, intricate, involved, tough

    Antonyms

    * (not simple) basic, easy, simple, straightforward

    Derived terms

    * complexity * complexness

    Noun

  • A problem.
  • A collection of buildings with a common purpose, such as a university or military base.
  • Assemblage of related things; collection.
  • * South
  • This parable of the wedding supper comprehends in it the whole complex of all the blessings and privileges exhibited by the gospel.
  • A psychological dislike or fear of a particular thing.
  • An organized cluster of thunderstorms.
  • (chemistry) A structure consisting of a central atom or molecule weakly connected to surrounding atoms or molecules.
  • * {{quote-magazine, year=2013, month=September-October, author= Katie L. Burke
  • , magazine=(American Scientist), title= In the News , passage=Oxygen levels on Earth skyrocketed 2.4 billion years ago, when cyanobacteria evolved photosynthesis:

    Derived terms

    * military-entertainment complex * military-industrial complex * Oedipus complex * prison-industrial complex * vitamin B complex * protein complex * chelate complex

    Verb

    (es)
  • (chemistry) To form a complex with another substance