Overcomplicate: meaning, definitions and examples

When someone makes a situation or a problem more difficult than it needs to be by adding unnecessary details or steps.

• Don't overcomplicate the instructions; keep them simple and clear.
• She tends to overcomplicate her work, making it harder for others to understand.

Used when someone introduces extra steps or elements that are not needed, leading to confusion or difficulty.

• He has a habit of complicating things unnecessarily, which often leads to mistakes.
• Please don't complicate the process unnecessarily; we need to finish on time.

General term for adding more details or steps to something, either intentionally or unintentionally, that increases its complexity.

• Adding new features will make the system more complex and harder to maintain.
• She decided to make the plot more complex to enhance the story.

Often used in a personal or emotional context when someone spends too much time thinking about something in a way that leads to anxiety or indecision.

• Stop overthinking your decision; just go with your gut feeling.
• He tends to overthink everything, which causes him a lot of stress.