Definition of complicationnext
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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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 Ward was added to the 40-man roster in November, taking away one layer of complication regarding a promotion. Bill Plunkett, Oc Register, 5 Mar. 2026 If kidney function is reduced, magnesium can build up and cause complications. Sara Hoffman, Verywell Health, 4 Mar. 2026 These treatments allow for quicker removal of blood clots, potentially reducing hospital stays and the risk of complications. CBS News, 4 Mar. 2026 Francisco Gaspar-Andres, 48, a detainee from Guatemala, died of health complications from cirrhosis and cardiac hypertrophy. Nicole Acevedo, NBC news, 4 Mar. 2026 See All Example Sentences for complication
Recent Examples of Synonyms for complication
Noun
  • A student who has difficulty reading aloud might be asked to read to one of their classmates, for example.
    ABC News, ABC News, 10 Mar. 2026
  • At the heart of the administration’s internal debate over warning the public as the Iran war continues is the difficulty of remaining transparent while avoiding widespread alarm.
    Shelby Talcott, semafor.com, 10 Mar. 2026
Noun
  • Detainees have described a camp where an average of about 3,000 people per day live in loud and unsanitary quarters, diseases spread easily and sleep is a luxury.
    Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 5 Mar. 2026
  • That same month, Stewart, who had dedicated his career to ticks and Lyme disease as a federal scientist, retired early.
    Rachana Pradhan, CNN Money, 5 Mar. 2026
Noun
  • The contracts are steeped in legal and technical complexity.
    Hadas Gold, CNN Money, 4 Mar. 2026
  • With 100 days to go until the World Cup, the Iran war has added a new layer of complexity to the tournament co-hosted by the United States, Mexico and Canada.
    Graham Dunbar, Chicago Tribune, 4 Mar. 2026
Noun
  • The complaint states Geter Pinder suffers from severe emotional distress, anxiety, paranoia about her safety, post-traumatic stress disorder, and other ailments.
    Abby Dodge, CBS News, 7 Mar. 2026
  • The complaint states Geter Pinder suffers from severe emotional distress, anxiety, paranoia about her safety, post-traumatic stress disorder and other ailments.
    Abby Dodge, Miami Herald, 7 Mar. 2026
Noun
  • After falling behind early in camp due to an illness, Sheehan made his first appearance in the Cactus League Wednesday against Team Mexico.
    Jack Vita, Los Angeles Times, 5 Mar. 2026
  • When faced with a patient suffering from an illness, many nurses err on the side of prescribing something.
    Jonathan Lambert, NPR, 5 Mar. 2026
Noun
  • Pretending to restore the coal zone to the employment conditions of the1950s, or even the 1980s, isn’t an honest way to go about it.
    Business Columnist, Los Angeles Times, 5 Mar. 2026
  • If the cosmic inflation that occurred prior to the Big Bang arose because certain high-energy conditions were met, then recreating those conditions and those sufficiently high energies could cause a restoration of the inflationary state.
    Big Think, Big Think, 5 Mar. 2026
Noun
  • Faced with high rates of suicide and other ills such as addiction, corrections officers have long been concerned about the stress and violence of their jobs.
    Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 24 Feb. 2026
  • Reform’s pitch to voters is that, for many of these ills, mass immigration is to blame.
    Alexander Smith, NBC news, 24 Feb. 2026
Noun
  • But for individuals experiencing schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, severe depression, or obsessive-compulsive disorder, that validation may amplify paranoia, grandiosity, or self-destructive thinking.
    Catherina Gioino, Fortune, 7 Mar. 2026
  • The complaint states Geter Pinder suffers from severe emotional distress, anxiety, paranoia about her safety, post-traumatic stress disorder, and other ailments.
    Abby Dodge, CBS News, 7 Mar. 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Complication.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/complication. Accessed 12 Mar. 2026.

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