1
as in difficulties
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
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2
as in diseases
an abnormal state that disrupts a plant's or animal's normal bodily functioning
complications set in after the surgery
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Recent Examples of complications
Legionnaires’ can lead to severe complications, including lung failure requiring mechanical ventilation, kidney failure, total body infection resulting in septic shock, and death.
—
Katia Hetter, CNN Money, 4 Sep. 2025
And aren’t our real-life romantic complications bewildering enough?
—Stephanie Zacharek, Time, 4 Sep. 2025
These lumps, which are common, rarely cause serious symptoms or complications.
—Mark Gurarie, Health, 4 Sep. 2025
At least four people drowned at McKinley Beach alone in 2020, which prompted Milwaukee County officials to close it for the remainder of the year — though the closure actually lasted until last spring, with restoration effort complications and an active lifeguard shortage.
—Cailey Gleeson, jsonline.com, 3 Sep. 2025
Allen Frank was recovering from complications from falling off the roof while cleaning the siding of the couple’s home in Rich Fountain in October.
—Bram Sable-Smith, Miami Herald, 3 Sep. 2025
These benefits are driven in large part by type 2 diabetes outcomes, where cost offsets from fewer hospitalizations and complications outweigh drug costs.
—Joshua P. Cohen, Forbes.com, 3 Sep. 2025
Prolonged screen sessions frequently coincide with a more sedentary lifestyle, which elevates the risk of muscle atrophy, eye strain, and cardiovascular complications.
—Andrew Paul, Popular Science, 3 Sep. 2025
The complications didn't stop there.
—Maggie Menderski, The Courier-Journal, 28 Aug. 2025
Katia Hetter, CNN Money, 4 Sep. 2025
And aren’t our real-life romantic complications bewildering enough?
—Stephanie Zacharek, Time, 4 Sep. 2025
These lumps, which are common, rarely cause serious symptoms or complications.
—Mark Gurarie, Health, 4 Sep. 2025
At least four people drowned at McKinley Beach alone in 2020, which prompted Milwaukee County officials to close it for the remainder of the year — though the closure actually lasted until last spring, with restoration effort complications and an active lifeguard shortage.
—Cailey Gleeson, jsonline.com, 3 Sep. 2025
Allen Frank was recovering from complications from falling off the roof while cleaning the siding of the couple’s home in Rich Fountain in October.
—Bram Sable-Smith, Miami Herald, 3 Sep. 2025
These benefits are driven in large part by type 2 diabetes outcomes, where cost offsets from fewer hospitalizations and complications outweigh drug costs.
—Joshua P. Cohen, Forbes.com, 3 Sep. 2025
Prolonged screen sessions frequently coincide with a more sedentary lifestyle, which elevates the risk of muscle atrophy, eye strain, and cardiovascular complications.
—Andrew Paul, Popular Science, 3 Sep. 2025
The complications didn't stop there.
—Maggie Menderski, The Courier-Journal, 28 Aug. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for complications
Noun
-
One of the biggest difficulties in devising laws on the topic of AI for mental health involves defining what constitutes AI for mental health.—
Lance Eliot,
Forbes.com,
8 Sep. 2025
-
Children exposed to wildfire smoke may experience chest pain and tightness, breathing difficulties, coughing, and irritation in the nose, throat, and eyes, among other symptoms.—
Joe Edwards,
MSNBC Newsweek,
7 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
Fox News' Health newsletter brings you stories on the latest developments in healthcare, wellness, diseases, mental health and more.—
Staff,
FOXNews.com,
5 Sep. 2025
-
Will eradicated diseases make a comeback if vaccination rates decline?—
Lily Altavena,
Freep.com,
5 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
To say the 2023 guidance was a complete success would be to discount the complexities that exist.—
Christian Espinosa,
Forbes.com,
8 Sep. 2025
-
The biggest challenge has been navigating the complexities of building a luxury brand from scratch.—
Ugonnaora Owoh,
Essence,
4 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
These rules, enforced by the state Department of Health, are designed to prevent outbreaks of contagious illnesses that once posed widespread threats.—
Peter Aitken,
MSNBC Newsweek,
7 Sep. 2025
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Public records and lawsuits show that many in-custody deaths involved serious health care lapses — medication being withheld, delayed care and failure to monitor people with serious illnesses.—
Kelly Davis,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
7 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
And, in the course of the novel, the characters do, in fact, die, one after another, but mostly from the ailments of old age.—
Rivka Galchen,
New Yorker,
6 Sep. 2025
-
The partnership tried to play through the ailments, but the results weren’t materializing for most of the year.—
The Athletic Tennis Staff,
New York Times,
6 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
These plants are adapted to the specific soils, climate and other local conditions of their region and support the local food web, providing habitat for native wildlife, pollinators and insects.—
Chris McKeown,
Cincinnati Enquirer,
6 Sep. 2025
-
These conditions make travel difficult.—
KANSAS CITY STAR WEATHER BOT,
Kansas City Star,
6 Sep. 2025
Noun
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Pathogens in human poop can remain active for a long time – over a year in outdoor environments – meaning that waste left behind today can cause severe gastrointestinal disease and other sicknesses for future visitors.—
B. Derrick Taff,
The Conversation,
29 Aug. 2025
Noun
-
In their assessments, desegregation and the passage of time have cured all of America’s racial ills.—
Time,
Time,
4 Sep. 2025
-
Macbeth, also an unstable Scottish king, blames the witches for the ills caused by his own murderous decisions.—
Emily Zarevich,
JSTOR Daily,
3 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Complications.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/complications. Accessed 11 Sep. 2025.
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