Synonyms for complex

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noun

An obsession
exaggerated reaction syndrome, phobia, mania, fixation, repressed emotions, repressed fears, repressed desires, repressed hates, group of repressed associations, hang-up*; see also fear 2, insanity 1, neurosis, obsession.
Types of psychological complexes include: Cain, castration, Diana, Electra, Oedipus, superiority, inferiority, persecution.
A composite
system, network, conglomerate, syndrome, web, tangle, ecosystem, ecological complex, aggregation, association, group, entanglement, totality; see also collection 2, confusion 2, system 1.

modified

Composed of several parts
composite, heterogeneous, compound, conglomerate, multiple, mingled, mixed, motley, mosaic, manifold, multifaceted, multiform, many-sided, many-faceted, complicated, elaborate, aggregate, involved, combined, compact, compounded, amalgamated, miscellaneous, multiplex, multifarious, variegated, interwoven, interlaced; see also mixed 1.
Antonyms simplified*, single, homogeneous.
Difficult to understand
complicated, involved, intricate, entangled, tangled, circuitous, convoluted, puzzling, mingled, muddled, jumbled, impenetrable, inscrutable, unfathomable, undecipherable, bewildering, perplexing, confused, difficult, obscure, abstruse, recondite, labyrinthine, enigmatic, hidden, knotted, knotty, meandering, winding, sinuous, tortuous, snarled, irreducible, rambling, paradoxical, excursive, Daedalian, Gordian, twisted, disordered, devious, Byzantine, cryptic, inextricable, mazy, roundabout, crabbed; see also confused 2, difficult 2, obscure 1.
Antonyms simple, understandable*, plain, apparent.

complex refers to that which is made up of many elaborately interrelated or interconnected parts, so that much study or knowledge is needed to understand or operate it a complex mechanism; complicated is applied to that which is highly complex and hence very difficult to analyze, solve, or understand a complicated problem; intricate specifically suggests a perplexingly elaborate interweaving of parts that is difficult to follow an intricate maze; involved, in this connection, is applied to situations, ideas, etc. whose parts are thought of as intertwining in complicated, often disordered, fashion an involved argument

See complex in Webster's New World Roget's A-Z Thesaurus II

adjective

Consisting of two or more interconnected parts:
composite, compound. See simple
Difficult to understand because of intricacy:
byzantine, complicated, convoluted, daedal, Daedalian, elaborate, intricate, involute, involved, knotty, labyrinthine, tangled. See simple

noun

A usually large entity composed of interconnected parts:
system. See part
A center of organization, supply, or activity:
base¹, headquarters, station. (Military) installation. See place
An exaggerated concern:
(Informal) hang-up. See fear

See complex in American Heritage Dictionary 4 Synonyms

complex complicated intricate involved tangled knotty

These adjectives mean having parts so interconnected as to make the whole perplexing. Complex implies a combination of many associated parts: The composer transformed a simple folk tune into a complex set of variations.
Complicated stresses elaborate relationship of parts: The party's complicated platform confused many voters.
Intricate refers to a pattern of intertwining parts that is difficult to follow or analyze: “No one could soar into a more intricate labyrinth of refined phraseology” (Anthony Trollope).
Involved stresses confusion arising from the commingling of parts and the consequent difficulty of separating them: The movie's plot was criticized as being too involved.
Tangled strongly suggests the random twisting of many parts: “Oh, what a tangled web we weave,/When first we practice to deceive!” (Sir Walter Scott).
Knotty stresses intellectual complexity leading to difficulty of solution or comprehension: Even the professor couldn't clarify the knotty point.

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