1
as in difficulty
something that makes a situation more complicated or difficult the food allergies of the guests were just another complication for the couple trying to plan their wedding reception

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance
2
3

Example 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 complication Fleming said Orozco’s case also shows the complications of the immigration system and how one decades-old decision can lead an immigrant who has built a life in the U.S. to suddenly be facing deportation. Daniella Silva, NBC news, 17 July 2025 While most children do experience measles as a weeklong annoyance, about a third will experience some kind of complication, and one in 500 will die. Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, Twin Cities, 16 July 2025 Recognizing symptoms early and adequately hydrating can help prevent more serious symptoms and complications of dehydration. Lindsay Curtis, Verywell Health, 16 July 2025 And Belly and Jere lived happily ever after, no drama, no complications, forever, the end. Sara Netzley, EW.com, 16 July 2025 See All Example Sentences for complication
Recent Examples of Synonyms for complication
Noun
  • Asked about the issue, administrators cited budget constraints and a difficulty hiring teachers.
    Rory Linnane, jsonline.com, 31 July 2025
  • Her son has Angelman syndrome, a rare genetic disorder, and Hoffer has had difficulty finding a private school that could serve her son.
    Keri Heath, Austin American Statesman, 30 July 2025
Noun
  • In addition to providing protection for individuals, the DHS website says that widespread vaccination means that diseases have less opportunity to spread.
    Andrew Montequin, jsonline.com, 22 July 2025
  • Topline Ozzy Osbourne, the legendary frontman of heavy metal progenitors Black Sabbath and a multi-platinum selling solo artist, has died at 76, his family confirmed to the BBC, just weeks after his final performance with his old band while still battling Parkinson’s disease.
    Zachary Folk, Forbes.com, 22 July 2025
Noun
  • Startups entering these markets often underestimate the complexity of compliance, auditability and institutional expectations.
    Kevin Meyer, Forbes.com, 25 July 2025
  • At its core, Maybe Happy Ending is a story about the longing for connection and the complexities of being human (and Helperbot, and Vegetable) — universal themes that transcend all backgrounds.
    Caitlin Huston, HollywoodReporter, 24 July 2025
Noun
  • As power in the American League East has quickly shifted in favor of the Toronto Blue Jays, don’t expect Major League Baseball’s upcoming trade deadline to serve as an antidote when attempting to cure all the Yankees’ ailments.
    Wayne G. McDonnell, Forbes.com, 25 July 2025
  • Brandi Glanville’s Disease is an acute and often incurable ailment among Housewives.
    Brian Moylan, Vulture, 24 July 2025
Noun
  • All these conversations are being had now because of King Charles’ illness.
    Lizzie Lanuza, StyleCaster, 21 July 2025
  • Hospitals will close, Americans will go hungry and die of preventable illnesses, but at least there will be far more detention space for our neighbors.
    New York Daily News Editorial Board, New York Daily News, 20 July 2025
Noun
  • Farrer acknowledged challenging economic conditions and trade uncertainties but expressed confidence in the company's long-term success.
    Olivia Evans, The Courier-Journal, 25 July 2025
  • Unstable upper atmosphere: Warm air temperatures in the upper atmosphere can disrupt conditions needed for hurricanes to develop.
    Janet Loehrke, USA Today, 24 July 2025
Noun
  • Across Florida and throughout the United States, a dangerous narrative is gaining ground, one that paints immigrants as threats, strangers and scapegoats for every social and economic ill.
    Maria Revelles, The Orlando Sentinel, 14 June 2025
  • Image That kind of thinking has placed Superflex among the innovative artists addressing the world’s ills today.
    Laura Rysman, New York Times, 21 May 2025
Noun
  • Four conditions qualify: schizophrenia, schizoaffective disorder, bipolar disorder and delusional disorder.
    Quinlan Bentley, The Enquirer, 26 July 2025
  • Tardive dyskinesia and dystonia are both neurological disorders affecting muscles and movement patterns.
    Ruth Jessen Hickman, Health, 25 July 2025

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Complication.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/complication. Accessed 4 Aug. 2025.

More from Merriam-Webster on complication

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!