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
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
According to the Los Angeles Times, Louis died at 63 years old in 1995 from complications related to lymphoma.
—
Jessica Booth, People.com, 2 Sep. 2025
In the past, he was evaluated by a veterinarian 11 times, with injuries including skull fractures, bruising of the head, ruptured eardrum, a head tilt, brain injury, dehydration, and liver complications.
—Alyce Collins, MSNBC Newsweek, 2 Sep. 2025
Future research questions Stacey Ellery, a research fellow at the Hudson Institute of Medical Research in Australia, is looking at whether taking creatine supplements in pregnancy can protect against complications for the fetus’ developing brain.
—Matt Fuchs, Time, 2 Sep. 2025
Sometimes, people develop resistance to the antivirals, and in rare cases experience kidney or liver complications or failure.
—Jia H. Jung, Mercury News, 1 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for complication
Jessica Booth, People.com, 2 Sep. 2025
In the past, he was evaluated by a veterinarian 11 times, with injuries including skull fractures, bruising of the head, ruptured eardrum, a head tilt, brain injury, dehydration, and liver complications.
—Alyce Collins, MSNBC Newsweek, 2 Sep. 2025
Future research questions Stacey Ellery, a research fellow at the Hudson Institute of Medical Research in Australia, is looking at whether taking creatine supplements in pregnancy can protect against complications for the fetus’ developing brain.
—Matt Fuchs, Time, 2 Sep. 2025
Sometimes, people develop resistance to the antivirals, and in rare cases experience kidney or liver complications or failure.
—Jia H. Jung, Mercury News, 1 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for complication
Recent Examples of Synonyms for complication
Noun
-
Huger was also the subject of viral bodycam footage that showed her difficulty speaking after the crash and making several statements that confused longtime fans.—
Jay Stahl,
USA Today,
3 Sep. 2025
-
The cognitive difficulties are harder to treat, Weinberger said.—
Kristen Rogers,
CNN Money,
2 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
This isn’t the first study to suggest the importance of breakfast for living a long life—research has shown that regularly eating a morning meal is linked with lower overall and heart-related mortality (and that bypassing it can up your heart-disease risk).—
Erica Sloan,
SELF,
4 Sep. 2025
-
Yet America’s system is transactional, rewarding affluence while neglecting the very conditions that produce disease.—
Stan Chu Ilo,
Chicago Tribune,
3 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
Peyton doubted that military attorneys would be able to master the complexities of immigration law without that rigorous process.—
Konstantin Toropin,
Chicago Tribune,
2 Sep. 2025
-
The best coaches translate complexity into clarity.—
Jodie Cook,
Forbes.com,
2 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
But Kelce injured his knee during that preseason, an ailment initially diagnosed as a bone bruise.—
Kansas City Star,
Kansas City Star,
5 Sep. 2025
-
Nick Herbig is also questionable due to a hamstring ailment.—
James Brizuela,
MSNBC Newsweek,
2 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
His illness has limited him to light catch play over the past few days, and the shift in plans meant some slight alterations to his routine, which Ireton ran through with club security.—
Fabian Ardaya,
New York Times,
6 Sep. 2025
-
Some are clearly seismic, like bereavement, illness or war.—
Mark Travers,
Forbes.com,
6 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
Like most extended car warranty providers, CarShield excludes pre-existing conditions that existed before your warranty took effect, as well as damage resulting from poor maintenance, neglect or intentional abuse.—
Brian Sloan,
CNBC,
4 Sep. 2025
-
By the early 1960s, reforms in Angola had begun to stall as budgets were cut and conditions deteriorated, the museum website says.—
Billal Rahman,
MSNBC Newsweek,
4 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
The Annunciation Church attack breaks a boundary - namely, that children should be spared from society's typical ills.—
Marc Ramirez,
USA Today,
29 Aug. 2025
-
Among those who came to view his immigration proceedings on Tuesday, but not allowed in, were Haitian bloggers and activists who blame him for the country’s ills.—
Jacqueline Charles,
Miami Herald,
27 Aug. 2025
Noun
-
These include celiac disease, pelvic floor dysfunction, irritable bowel syndrome, hormonal imbalances such as hypothyroidism, metabolic disorders like diabetes, neurological conditions such as Parkinson’s disease or even certain cancers.—
Daryl Austin,
USA Today,
6 Sep. 2025
-
There is no credible scientific evidence that acetaminophen causes autism or that leucovorin (a derivative of folic acid) can prevent the disorder, as the HHS report purportedly will suggest, according to reporting by the Wall Street Journal.—
Jon Hamilton,
NPR,
6 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Complication.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/complication. Accessed 9 Sep. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share