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
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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
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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
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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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
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.—
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Symptoms include breathing difficulties, fatigue and loss of taste.—
Noun
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Plant diseases and pests can be spread by reusing dirty flower pots.—
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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.—
Noun
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Instead of adding complexity, Longbow removes it.—
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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.—
Noun
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In 2010, two years before his death at 82 from complications of heart and lung ailments, Reisman founded Table Tennis Nation.—
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Wide receiver Kayshon Boutte, who popped up on the injury report Thursday with a hamstring ailment, was present.—
Noun
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The Pistons played without Cade Cunningham (wrist), Isaiah Stewart (illness), Tobias Harris (hip) and Jalen Duren (ankle).—
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Vinjamoori explains that while general recommendations for older adults often start lower, needs increase significantly if a person is active, recovering from illness, or trying to rebuild strength.—
Noun
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Weather, road conditions and local traffic patterns are also worth considering in this context.—
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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.—
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.—
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Certainly, in the past several years, the app has been blamed for any number of contemporary social ills.—
Noun
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Amid the disorder, the regime turned to a familiar playbook of crushing dissent.—
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Alcazar said the unrest underscores the danger of leaving federal agents to operate amid disorder without local law enforcement support, warning that the absence of a visible police presence increases the risk of escalation and injury for officers and civilians alike.—
Cite this Entry
“Complication.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/complication. Accessed 13 Jan. 2026.
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