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
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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
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
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Recent Examples of complication
Since then, Ross has battled uterine cancer, heart disease and complications from her type 1 diabetes, including sight loss in her right eye.
—
Madeline Mitchell, USA Today, 8 Jan. 2026
Vaccination now can still help protect against serious health complications from the flu for several more months.
—Jack Perry, The Providence Journal, 8 Jan. 2026
An additional complication last year was the departure of Justin Connolly, a 27-year veteran of ESPN and Disney, who moved to a senior post at YouTube just as its TV arm was starting renewal talks with Disney.
—Dade Hayes, Deadline, 8 Jan. 2026
Adults age 65 and older, children age 4 and younger, and those with certain underlying health conditions are at the highest risk for complications.
—Paula Wethington, CBS News, 8 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for complication
Madeline Mitchell, USA Today, 8 Jan. 2026
Vaccination now can still help protect against serious health complications from the flu for several more months.
—Jack Perry, The Providence Journal, 8 Jan. 2026
An additional complication last year was the departure of Justin Connolly, a 27-year veteran of ESPN and Disney, who moved to a senior post at YouTube just as its TV arm was starting renewal talks with Disney.
—Dade Hayes, Deadline, 8 Jan. 2026
Adults age 65 and older, children age 4 and younger, and those with certain underlying health conditions are at the highest risk for complications.
—Paula Wethington, CBS News, 8 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for complication
Recent Examples of Synonyms for complication
Noun
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Their study on the jagged frontier shows that AI capability spikes and dips across activities rather than rising smoothly with difficulty.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
8 Jan. 2026
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Symptoms include breathing difficulties, fatigue and loss of taste.—
Stephanie Stahl,
CBS News,
7 Jan. 2026
Noun
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Plant diseases and pests can be spread by reusing dirty flower pots.—
Mary Marlowe Leverette,
The Spruce,
9 Jan. 2026
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In 2024, Patrick's widow Lisa Niemi Swayze teamed up with leading non profit Pancreatic Cancer Action Network to help raise awareness of the disease and increase funding for research.—
Madison E. Goldberg,
PEOPLE,
8 Jan. 2026
Noun
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Instead of adding complexity, Longbow removes it.—
Aamir Khollam,
Interesting Engineering,
8 Jan. 2026
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In contrast with that complexity, the reasons that the Sabres appear to finally, belatedly be pulling out of their dark decade and a half are simple.—
Thomas Drance,
New York Times,
7 Jan. 2026
Noun
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Christian Braun added 31 points, Aaron Gordon scored 20, and Jamal Murray — playing through a calf ailment — finished with 15 points and seven assists.—
Ben Verbrugge,
MSNBC Newsweek,
6 Nov. 2025
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Chronic inflammation is a low-level, persistent activation of the immune system that can damage the body over time and is linked to ailments such as cardiovascular disease, neurodegenerative diseases, cancer, and autoimmune conditions.—
Jason Liebowitz,
The Atlantic,
4 Nov. 2025
Noun
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Watson died in hospice care after a brief illness, his son confirmed Friday, according to The Associated Press.—
Sophia Compton,
FOXNews.com,
8 Nov. 2025
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Jelly Roll has been forced to cancel the final date of his debut Australia and New Zealand tour, citing illness, just hours before the headline show was set to kick off.—
Jessica Lynch,
Billboard,
8 Nov. 2025
Noun
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Weather, road conditions and local traffic patterns are also worth considering in this context.—
Ethan M. Stone,
Miami Herald,
9 Jan. 2026
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Kim said the rover’s onboard computer has flown on South Korea’s Nuri rocket, allowing the team to test critical control hardware under real space conditions.—
Aamir Khollam,
Interesting Engineering,
9 Jan. 2026
Noun
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As a result of her work with AMRs, Wise avoids framing humanoids as some sort of industrial panacea for every economic ill, from labor shortages to manufacturing bottlenecks.—
James Vincent,
Harpers Magazine,
30 Dec. 2025
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Certainly, in the past several years, the app has been blamed for any number of contemporary social ills.—
Naomi Fry,
New Yorker,
27 Dec. 2025
Noun
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Ruling Out Medical Causes Violet, from Ontario, Canada, was tested for celiac disease (CD), a lifelong autoimmune disorder in which the small intestine is hypersensitive to gluten, interfering with nutrient absorption and sometimes affecting growth.—
Lucy Notarantonio,
MSNBC Newsweek,
8 Nov. 2025
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Flavonoids are compounds with anti-inflammatory and antioxidant abilities that can protect against heart and blood vessel disorders.—
Kirstyn Hill,
Health,
8 Nov. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Complication.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/complication. Accessed 10 Jan. 2026.
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