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
as in disease
an abnormal state that disrupts a plant's or animal's normal bodily functioning
complications set in after the surgery
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in complexity
the state or quality of having many interrelated parts or aspects
a problem of such irreducible complication as to defy any easy solution
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of complication
The coroner’s office determined the cause of death was complication of multiple blunt force injuries and the manner was accident.
—
Shannon Tyler, Idaho Statesman, 17 Mar. 2026
Other complications include meningitis (inflammation of the membrane surrounding the brain and spinal cord), encephalitis (inflammation of the brain), inflammation of the pancreas, and hearing loss.
—Emily Kay Votruba, EverydayHealth.com, 16 Mar. 2026
In addition to thwarting complications, glues and netting can also abate bruising and swelling after facelift surgery, curtailing patients’ recovery.
—Jolene Edgar, Allure, 16 Mar. 2026
But the new study that analyzed data from an Ontario cohort through six weeks postpartum found the current practice misses more than 40% of cases with severe complications.
—Theresa Gaffney, STAT, 16 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for complication
Shannon Tyler, Idaho Statesman, 17 Mar. 2026
Other complications include meningitis (inflammation of the membrane surrounding the brain and spinal cord), encephalitis (inflammation of the brain), inflammation of the pancreas, and hearing loss.
—Emily Kay Votruba, EverydayHealth.com, 16 Mar. 2026
In addition to thwarting complications, glues and netting can also abate bruising and swelling after facelift surgery, curtailing patients’ recovery.
—Jolene Edgar, Allure, 16 Mar. 2026
But the new study that analyzed data from an Ontario cohort through six weeks postpartum found the current practice misses more than 40% of cases with severe complications.
—Theresa Gaffney, STAT, 16 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for complication
Recent Examples of Synonyms for complication
Noun
-
In Washington, the House and Senate postponed votes because of difficulty traveling during inclement weather, and federal agencies told workers to go home early.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
17 Mar. 2026
-
Castro said the difficulty of adjusting could become clearer with time.—
Emiliano Tahui Gómez,
Austin American Statesman,
17 Mar. 2026
Noun
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Dane was diagnosed last April with ALS, a disease that attacks nerves in the brain and spinal cord, stealing a person's ability to walk, breathe and often speak.—
Brittney Melton,
NPR,
18 Mar. 2026
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There is enormous pressure on these companies to optimize AI to make money in the short term by convincing people to use it, rather than advance science or cure disease in the long term, and to create systems that entirely replace workers rather than merely help them.—
J. Xavier Prochaska,
Mercury News,
18 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
Costs vary widely based on the complexity of your case, including factors like the amount of tax debt, number of unfiled returns and level of IRS enforcement.—
Adam Palasciano,
USA Today,
18 Mar. 2026
-
In a way, that complexity has pushed us to broaden the portfolio and position Goodmellow as a functional beverage brand, not just a THC beverage.—
Jeff Burkhart,
Mercury News,
18 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
The implications about diet and disease — and the possibility of drastically reducing our most fatal ailments — are convincing.—
Declan Gallagher,
Entertainment Weekly,
12 Mar. 2026
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As for the Heat’s injuries, Herro and Ware’s ailments are the new ones to monitor.—
Anthony Chiang,
Miami Herald,
11 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
The ability to self-schedule helps Young manage her autism and a chronic illness called postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome, which can cause a rapid heart rate or dizziness when standing up.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
19 Mar. 2026
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Recent water samples showed bacteria levels exceeding state health standards, which may increase the risk of illness, the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health told Fox News Digital.—
Kelly McGreal,
FOXNews.com,
19 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
The judge had set their bail at $25,000 each with home confinement, GPS monitoring, and other conditions because of the delays caused by the Quigley allegations disclosure.—
Colleen Cronin,
Boston Herald,
19 Mar. 2026
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The task force will monitor conditions across the state and recommend mitigation efforts to Polis.—
Elise Schmelzer,
Denver Post,
19 Mar. 2026
Noun
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And Pearl, while making his team’s case Thursday, unwittingly did a fine job of spelling out the ills of expansion as well.—
Joe Rexrode,
New York Times,
13 Mar. 2026
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Hollywood has always been an easy political punching bag–a convenient scapegoat for a host of intractable ills.—
Maer Roshan,
HollywoodReporter,
10 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
Stage 6 is the breakdown—the period of great disorder.—
Ray Dalio,
Fortune,
14 Mar. 2026
-
David Nichols, a neuroscientist who is an expert on psychedelics, told me about a woman with alcohol-use disorder who realized during a psilocybin trip that her drinking was harming her children and decided to stop.—
Clayton Dalton,
New Yorker,
13 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Complication.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/complication. Accessed 22 Mar. 2026.
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