overtly complex

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "overtly complex" is correct and usable in written English.
It is used to describe something that is overly complicated or difficult to understand. For example, you might say: "The author's writing style was overly complex, with several overtly complex sentences that were difficult to follow."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

5 human-written examples

Not the big climactic blasts or soaring themes, not the overtly complex or most dramatic passages.

The New York Times

Even Bartok's Sixth Quartet, the most overtly complex work here, begins with a tart, melancholy, unaccompanied viola line and later touches on the rhythms of Hungarian folk music.

The New York Times - Arts

I've found the most productive time for reading aloud is about the six-year-old mark, where children can figure out more complex plots, and we've made the move to chapter books with multiple characters and plots that while not overtly complex, certainly carry subtle and important ideas.

The Guardian

All of these features point out the importance of revealing the crustal structure and fluid-distribution at this overtly complex region, where the current seismic nature could be highly inherited by its paleo-tectonic evolution.

Earth, Planets and Space

It was perhaps a good career move for Strauss to die shortly after the war, while Barber and Britten somehow outlived their time, as their music was sadly "too spikey to appeal to the bulk of listeners, and not overtly complex enough for the modernists".

Huffington Post

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

55 human-written examples

To understand the complex, overtly sexual appeal of the Rizzo persona, picture Sarah Palin, and add a whip to the belt of her black leather suit.

Huffington Post

It's amazing, tho, how many people consider treating a female character as a complex human overtly "feminist".

The Guardian

Notably, the format of the intervention, whether it was a closed or open question, simple or complex, subtle or overtly directive, a statement, or even non-verbal, was less important than the timing and context [ 57, 92], the intent of the challenge and the tenacious expectation of a considered student response.

BMC Medical Education

Participants performed simple or complex sequential finger movements either overtly or covertly.

Plosone

These habits can have an effect even when people are willing to overtly accept context-dependence of (most) causes in complex biological systems.

SEP

However, this volume does not fully resolve this issue, and I feel that it is important for future research to more overtly consider how prehistoric populations moved across this complex landscape, and therein be clearer about why nomadism need not be the explanation.

Pastoralism

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When describing systems or processes, use "overtly complex" to highlight not just the complexity, but how apparent or intentional it is. This can add nuance to your critique or analysis.

Common error

Avoid using "overtly complex" when simpler terms like "complicated" or "intricate" would suffice. Using it in simple context can make your writing sound pretentious.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "overtly complex" functions as an adverb-adjective combination. The adverb "overtly" modifies the adjective "complex", indicating that the complexity is not just present but also apparent or conspicuous. As Ludwig AI explains, this suggests that the complexity is easily noticeable or even intentional.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

40%

Science

40%

Formal & Business

20%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "overtly complex" is a grammatically correct and usable phrase that describes something whose complexity is not only present but also conspicuously apparent. As Ludwig AI confirms, it's used in contexts ranging from news and media to scientific discourse, to emphasize that the complexity is readily noticeable. While the phrase can add emphasis, it's important to avoid overusing it in simple contexts, as it can sound pretentious. Consider alternatives like "obviously intricate" or "patently complicated" to tailor the nuance of your writing. Ludwig's analysis reveals that the primary function of the phrase is to emphasize complexity, while the communicative purpose is to highlight the obvious nature of that complexity.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

obviously intricate

Replaces 'complex' with 'intricate' and 'overtly' with 'obviously', emphasizing the clear and apparent nature of the complexity.

patently complicated

Substitutes 'complex' with 'complicated' and 'overtly' with 'patently', highlighting the undeniable nature of the complication.

plainly convoluted

Uses 'convoluted' instead of 'complex' and 'plainly' in place of 'overtly', stressing the easily perceived and tangled nature of something.

distinctly labyrinthine

Replaces 'complex' with 'labyrinthine' to suggest a maze-like quality and 'overtly' with 'distinctly' to emphasize the clear differentiation.

markedly sophisticated

Swaps 'complex' for 'sophisticated' to indicate advanced complexity and 'overtly' for 'markedly' to show it's noticeably so.

noticeably elaborate

Changes 'complex' to 'elaborate' and 'overtly' to 'noticeably', pointing out the conspicuous detail and intricacy.

manifestly intricate

Replaces 'overtly' with 'manifestly', suggesting the complexity is undeniably apparent, while retaining 'intricate' for complexity.

unmistakably involved

Substitutes 'complex' with 'involved' to highlight the entanglement and 'overtly' with 'unmistakably' to show the lack of ambiguity.

evidently multifaceted

Uses 'multifaceted' to replace 'complex', emphasizing multiple aspects, and 'evidently' for 'overtly', indicating clear visibility.

visibly intricate

Replaces 'overtly' with 'visibly' to describe something that is clearly intricate.

FAQs

How can I use "overtly complex" in a sentence?

You can use "overtly complex" to describe something that is not only complex but also noticeably or deliberately so. For example, "The legal document was "overtly complex", filled with jargon and convoluted clauses."

What's the difference between "complex" and "overtly complex"?

"Complex" describes something with many interconnected parts, while "overtly complex" suggests the complexity is apparent, intentional, or excessive. It's not just complex, but noticeably so.

What can I say instead of "overtly complex"?

Alternatives include "patently complicated", "obviously intricate", or "plainly convoluted", depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is "overtly complex" always negative?

While often used in a negative context to criticize unnecessary complication, "overtly complex" can also be neutral, simply pointing out a high level of complexity that is easily observed.