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Perplex vs Complicate - What's the difference?

perplex | complicate |

In transitive terms the difference between perplex and complicate

is that perplex is to involve; to entangle; to make intricate or complicated while complicate is to expose involvement in a convoluted matter.

In obsolete terms the difference between perplex and complicate

is that perplex is intricate; difficult while complicate is intertwined.

perplex

English

Verb

(es)
  • To cause to feel baffled; to .
  • To involve; to entangle; to make intricate or complicated.
  • * John Locke
  • What was thought obscure, perplexed , and too hard for our weak parts, will lie open to the understanding in a fair view.
  • (obsolete) To plague; to vex; to torment.
  • (Glanvill)

    Synonyms

    * See also

    Adjective

    (en adjective)
  • (obsolete) intricate; difficult
  • (Glanvill)
    (Webster 1913)

    complicate

    English

    Verb

    (complicat)
  • To fold or twist together; to combine intricately; to make complex; to combine or associate so as to make intricate or difficult.
  • Don't complicate yourself in issues that are beyond the scope of your education.
  • to expose involvement in a convoluted matter.
  • John has been complicated in the affair by new tapes that surfaced.
    The DA has made every effort to complicate me in the scandal.

    Synonyms

    * (expose involvement in a convoluted matter) intricate, entangle, embroil, mix up (in something), mire

    See also

    * complex

    Adjective

    (en adjective)
  • (obsolete) Intertwined.
  • Complex, complicated.
  • * 1745 , Edward Young, Night-Thoughts , I:
  • How poor, how rich, how abject, how august, / How complicate , how wonderful, is Man!