Antonyms for simple

Grammar : Adj

Spell : sim-puhl

Phonetic Transcription : ˈsɪm pəl

Definition of simple

Origin : c.1200, "free from duplicity, upright, guileless; blameless, innocently harmless," also "ignorant, uneducated; unsophisticated; simple-minded, foolish," from Old French simple (12c.) "plain, decent; friendly, sweet; naive, foolish, stupid," hence "wretched, miserable," from Latin simplus, variant of simplex "simple, uncompounded," literally "onefold" (see simplex). Sense of "free from pride, humble, meek" is mid-13c. As "consisting of only one substance or ingredient" (opposite of composite or compounded) it dates from late 14c.; as "easily done" (opposite of complicated) it dates from late 15c.
From mid-14c. as "unqualified; mere; sheer;" also "clear, straightforward; easily understood." From late 14c. as "single, individual; whole." From late 14c. of clothing, etc., "modest, plain, unadorned," and of food, "plain, not sumptuous." In medicine, of fractures, etc., "lacking complications," late 14c. As a law term, "lacking additional legal stipulations, unlimited," from mid-14c.
In Middle English with wider senses than recently, e.g. "inadequate, insufficient; weak, feeble; mere; few; sad, downcast; mournful; of little value; low in price; impoverished, destitute;" of hair, "straight, not curly." As noun, "an innocent or a guileless person; a humble or modest person" (late 14c.), also "an uncompounded substance." From c.1500 as "ignorant people."

adj clear, understandable; easy
adj uncluttered, natural
adj childlike, innocent
adj feeble-minded; not intelligent

Example sentences :

After all, it was not a simple thing to put Bill Dozier off the trail.
Extract from : « Way of the Lawless » by Max Brand

His program was as simple as the curriculum of a Persian youth.
Extract from : « Way of the Lawless » by Max Brand

Until the furies got hold of him he was a simple soul, content with simple things.
Extract from : « Viviette » by William J. Locke

I see myself a singer of simple songs, a laureate of the under-dog.
Extract from : « Ballads of a Bohemian » by Robert W. Service

Two against three would be a simple thing, as long as he was one of the two.
Extract from : « Way of the Lawless » by Max Brand

The method of working with it was simple in idea, however difficult in practice.
Extract from : « The Conquest of Fear » by Basil King

Many a one imitates simplicity, but Amy was simple—one-fold.
Extract from : « Weighed and Wanting » by George MacDonald

Simple Alleyne opened his eyes at this little spurt of feminine bitterness.
Extract from : « The White Company » by Arthur Conan Doyle

Her words were simple enough, but they touched to the heart of the man accused by them.
Extract from : « Within the Law » by Marvin Dana

The declaration, simple as it was, aroused the official to new indignation.
Extract from : « Within the Law » by Marvin Dana

Synonyms for simple

Based on : Thesaurus.com - Gutenberg.org - Dictionary.com - Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019