Dave's ESL Cafe's Student Discussion Forums

[leezong128]

Dear teachers:

I'd like to know how to figure out these three words. I realize that three meanings are similar with each other, because my high school teacher had taught us their meaning is "not simple". But I still can't understand how and when I use these three words. For example, we often say "sophisticated" weapons rather than "complex\complicated" weapons. I really confused about it. Thanks for your help.

Best wishes,
Ray, Li

[pugachevV]

Complex - consisting of many different and connected parts.

Sophisticated - highly complex.

Complicated - can mean the same as complex, as well as; intricate; involving many different and confusing aspects.

You can find all these words in your dictionary. You should look them up yourself.