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Nuanced vs Complicated - What's the difference?

nuanced | complicated |

As adjectives the difference between nuanced and complicated

is that nuanced is having nuances; possessed of multiple layers of detail, pattern, or meaning while complicated is difficult or convoluted.

As a verb complicated is

past tense of complicate.

nuanced

English

Adjective

(en adjective)
  • Having nuances; possessed of multiple layers of detail, pattern, or meaning
    • The setting sunlight played through the gently waving branches, creating subtly nuanced transitions of color and tone as the shadows swept back and forth in the rosy glow.
  • * 1989 , R. Kent Hughes, Preaching the Word: 1-9:1 :
    • I would like to have heard his intonation delicately nuanced so as to carry the greatest punch. I would like to have seen the changes of expression that played across his face as he spoke.''
  • * 1998 , Meredith Parsons Lillich, The Queen of Sicily and Gothic Stained Glass in Mussy and Tonnerre :
    • ...the pattern normally straightens into an almost pure latticework of identical quarries and the foliage painting becomes much more nuanced and delicate.

    complicated

    English

    Adjective

    (en adjective)
  • Difficult or convoluted.
    • It seems this complicated situation will not blow over soon.
  • *
    • Mind you, clothes were clothes in those days. […]  Frills, ruffles, flounces, lace, complicated seams and gores: not only did they sweep the ground and have to be held up in one hand elegantly as you walked along, but they had little capes or coats or feather boas.
  • (Biology) Folded longitudinally (as in the wings of certain insects).

    • Antonyms

    * simple

    Verb

    (head)
  • (complicate)
    • The process of fixing the car engine was complicated by the lack of tools.