excessively complicated

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "excessively complicated" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to describe something that is overly complex or difficult to understand. Example: "The instructions for assembling the furniture were excessively complicated, making it hard for anyone to follow them."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Encyclopedias

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

15 human-written examples

His principled insistence on not setting foot in Charlottesville makes for excessively complicated travel arrangements with his daughter.

The New York Times - Books

Now the program that was set up to help them cope with cancer, they say, has turned out to be excessively complicated and arbitrary, requiring decades-old employment records that in many cases are incomplete or cannot be found.

The New York Times

The dysfunction, they say, stems from inadequate training and weak management, an excessively complicated process, and assembly line-like performance standards that require them to meet production quotas under threat of demotion or firing.

The New York Times

He impressed on us that tadelakt is not excessively complicated but that timing is critical and that we needed to learn to use all of our senses to judge when to execute each step.

The New York Times

No one would want to wear her curlicue-swirled organza shirting, or those eyelet-embroidered evening dresses that wound up looking like excessively complicated Aertex inner soles plucked from a pair of over-designed trainers.

Independent

This type of mounting, in various forms, was widely adopted, but it was gradually realized to be excessively complicated in view of the practical difficulty of a ship's gun being able to hit such a small target at long range.

Encyclopedia Britannica

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

44 human-written examples

Too complicated.

The New York Times

Mr. Bush, who has complicated feelings about an alma mater he has viewed in the past as excessively liberal and elitist, displayed no such ambivalence tonight as he joined the a cappella group known as the Whiffenpoofs in a traditional Yale song.

The New York Times

Bill complicated.

The New York Times

Sound complicated?

The New York Times

Complicated business, complicated.

Huffington Post

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When aiming for clarity, replace the phrase "excessively complicated" with simpler synonyms like "overly complex" or "unduly intricate" to enhance readability and comprehension.

Common error

Avoid using "excessively complicated" within already complex sentences. This can lead to redundancy and make your writing seem convoluted. Instead, simplify the sentence structure and use a more direct adjective.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "excessively complicated" functions primarily as a pre-modifying adjective phrase, adding emphasis to the noun it modifies. Ludwig AI confirms the phrase is grammatically sound and widely used. It serves to intensify the degree of complexity, implying it exceeds what is necessary or desirable.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

40%

Science

25%

Encyclopedias

15%

Less common in

Wiki

10%

Formal & Business

5%

Reference

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "excessively complicated" is a grammatically correct and commonly used adjective phrase that intensifies the concept of complexity while adding a negative connotation, suggesting it is unnecessary or undesirable. Ludwig AI analysis and examples from reliable sources like The New York Times and The Economist confirm its acceptability across various contexts, particularly in news, science, and encyclopedic writing. When aiming for clarity, consider replacing it with synonyms such as "unduly complex" or "overly intricate". Avoid using it in already complex sentences to prevent redundancy.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

unduly complex

Focuses on the idea that the complexity is unnecessary or inappropriate.

overly intricate

Highlights the fine details and elaborateness contributing to the complexity.

inordinately complex

Emphasizes the excessive or disproportionate nature of the complexity.

unnecessarily complex

Directly states that the complexity serves no useful purpose.

needlessly convoluted

Suggests the complexity is tangled and confusing, and could have been avoided.

gratuitously complex

Implies the complexity is added without good reason or justification.

unwarrantedly complex

Highlights that the complexity lacks adequate justification or support.

absurdly complex

Indicates that the level of complexity is unreasonable and illogical.

painfully complicated

Emphasizes the negative experience or difficulty caused by the complexity.

ridiculously complex

Suggests the complexity is so great that it is laughable or deserving of mockery.

FAQs

How can I use "excessively complicated" in a sentence?

You can use "excessively complicated" to describe processes, systems, or explanations that are overly complex and difficult to understand. For example: "The instructions were "excessively complicated", making assembly nearly impossible."

What are some alternatives to "excessively complicated"?

Some alternatives include "unduly complex", "overly intricate", "inordinately complex", or "unnecessarily complicated". The best choice depends on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is it better to say "very complicated" or "excessively complicated"?

"Excessively complicated" implies a negative judgment about the level of complexity, suggesting it's unnecessary or undesirable. "Very complicated" is more neutral. The choice depends on whether you want to express that something is not only complex but also inappropriately so.

What's the difference between "complicated" and "excessively complicated"?

"Complicated" simply means that something is not simple or straightforward. "Excessively complicated" means that something is more complicated than necessary or appropriate. The addition of "excessively" adds a layer of criticism or disapproval of the complexity.