INVOLVED Synonyms: 215 Similar and Opposite Words

Q: How does the adjective 'involved' differ from other similar words?

Some common synonyms of involved are complex , complicated , intricate , and knotty . While all these words mean "having confusingly interrelated parts," involved implies extreme complication and often disorder. // a rambling, involved explanation

Q: When is it sensible to use 'complex' instead of 'involved'?

In some situations, the words complex and involved are roughly equivalent. However, complex suggests the unavoidable result of a necessary combining and does not imply a fault or failure. // a complex recipe

Q: When is 'complicated' a more appropriate choice than 'involved'?

The synonyms complicated and involved are sometimes interchangeable, but complicated applies to what offers great difficulty in understanding, solving, or explaining. // complicated legal procedures

Q: Where would 'intricate' be a reasonable alternative to 'involved'?

While in some cases nearly identical to involved , intricate suggests such interlacing of parts as to make it nearly impossible to follow or grasp them separately. // an intricate web of deceit

Q: In what contexts can 'knotty' take the place of 'involved'?

The meanings of knotty and involved largely overlap; however, knotty suggests complication and entanglement that make solution or understanding improbable. // knotty ethical questions

involved 1 of 2

adjective

in-ˈvälvd

Definition of involved next

as in complicated

having many parts or aspects that are usually interrelated a remarkably involved story for a writer so young

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in detailed

made or done with great care or with much detail very involved descriptions of every last detail of the lavish wedding

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involved

2 of 2

verb

past tense of involve

as in affected

to be the business or affair of this isn't something that involves you, so don't worry about it

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as in included

to have as part of a whole a tragic play usually involves a number of plot devices, including the hero's fatal flaw

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as in interested

to hold the attention of her blissful daydream so completely involved her that she never heard the knock on the door

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as in wrapped

to surround or cover closely a mind that was deeply involved in doubt about his wife's fidelity

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Synonym Chooser

How does the adjective involved differ from other similar words?

Some common synonyms of involved are complex, complicated, intricate, and knotty. While all these words mean "having confusingly interrelated parts," involved implies extreme complication and often disorder.

a rambling, involved explanation

When is it sensible to use complex instead of involved?

In some situations, the words complex and involved are roughly equivalent. However, complex suggests the unavoidable result of a necessary combining and does not imply a fault or failure.

a complex recipe

When is complicated a more appropriate choice than involved?

The synonyms complicated and involved are sometimes interchangeable, but complicated applies to what offers great difficulty in understanding, solving, or explaining.

complicated legal procedures

Where would intricate be a reasonable alternative to involved?

While in some cases nearly identical to involved, intricate suggests such interlacing of parts as to make it nearly impossible to follow or grasp them separately.

an intricate web of deceit

In what contexts can knotty take the place of involved?

The meanings of knotty and involved largely overlap; however, knotty suggests complication and entanglement that make solution or understanding improbable.

knotty ethical questions

Examples Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Recent Examples of involved

Adjective

But with the streaming services getting more and more involved in NFL telecasts, Fox only has a single game to produce every postseason weekend in these playoffs. —

Scott Fowler, Charlotte Observer, 14 Jan. 2025 According to police, the incident occurred during a birthday party, in which the four suspects allegedly entered the residence and became involved in an altercation before shots were fired. —

Danny Tow, Baltimore Sun, 8 Jan. 2025

Verb

Getting everybody involved early. —

Hunter Patterson, The Athletic, 5 Jan. 2025 Shrinking The best dramedy on TV right now, Shrinking is also about a recent widower, though there is no mysterious dystopian corporation involved. —

Erik Kain, Forbes, 4 Jan. 2025 See all Example Sentences for involved

Recent Examples of Synonyms for involved

Adjective

Yet, disentangling cartel operations from U.S. interests in Mexico could be immensely complicated.

— Maria Abi-Habib, New York Times, 22 Jan. 2025
However, these breakthroughs come with inherent hazards, such as adversaries misusing AI, ethical issues and the difficulty of preserving transparency in complicated systems.

— Rohan Pinto, Forbes, 21 Jan. 2025