Basic Details
Word: Complex
Part of Speech: Adjective
Meaning: Made of many connected parts, and so often hard to understand or deal with. As a noun, a complex is a group of buildings used for one purpose.
Synonyms: complicated, intricate, involved, elaborate
Antonyms: simple, straightforward, easy
How to Spell Complex
Syllables: com - plex
Tricky part: The final ks sound is written with a single x. Students write compleks or complecks.
Watch out for: compleks, complecks, complax
Memory tip: Complex ends in x, like index and reflex: in each, one x does the whole ks job.
Usage Examples
Example 1: The human brain is a complex organ.
Example 2: We live in a housing complex with a small park in the middle.
Example 3: The metro map looked complex at first, but it is easy once you know the colours.
Fun Fact
In psychology, an inferiority complex is a lasting feeling of being less able than other people; the idea was made popular by the Austrian doctor Alfred Adler.
Practise the CREST Way
Word Connection
Choose the antonym of the word complex as used in the sentence:
Solving the puzzle needed a complex set of moves, and only two students finished it.
a) involved
b) intricate
c) complicated
d) simple
Show answer
d) simple. A simple set of moves would have let most of the class finish.
Spell-o-Spell
Read the four words. Choose the meaning of the only correctly spelt word:
1. superfishal 2. complex 3. ambiguos 4. obsolite
a) only on the surface, not deep
b) no longer in use
c) made of many connected parts and hard to understand
d) having more than one possible meaning
Show answer
c) made of many connected parts and hard to understand. Superficial is never spelt with sh, and the other two slips are vowels; complex has no slip at all.
Mingle-Mangle
Unjumble the word in the sentence and choose it:
The sports xelcmop near the lake has a pool, two courts and a running track.
a) comply
b) compel
c) complex
d) example
Show answer
c) complex. Only complex uses the x along with every one of c, o, m, p, l and e.
Multiple Choice Questions
1. Which of these is the most complex machine?
a) a hammer
b) a spoon
c) a pencil
d) a jet engine
Show answer
d) a jet engine
2. The noun meaning the state of being complex is ____.
a) complexly
b) complicity
c) complexion
d) complexity
Show answer
d) complexity
