complication

noun

ˌkäm-plə-ˈkā-shən How to pronounce complication (audio)
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

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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

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 About 80% of people who become infected do not develop symptoms, while fewer than 1% develop severe illness or neurological complications. — Jessie Baltaxe, CBS News, 13 Aug. 2026 The season will find Lee teaming with a public defender, played by Betty Gilpin, on a case while also dealing with complications in his own life, some of them self-inflicted. — Rick Porter, HollywoodReporter, 12 Aug. 2026 Postpartum depression affects roughly 1 in 7 to 1 in 8 women after childbirth, making it among the most common complications of pregnancy. — Jamie Maguire, STAT, 12 Aug. 2026 He was initially given little chance of survival and even less chance of living life without major complications. — Hannah Sacks, PEOPLE, 12 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for complication
Recent Examples of Synonyms for complication
  1. difficulty
  2. disease
  3. complexity
  4. ailment
  5. illness
  6. condition
  7. ill
  8. disorder
Noun
  • Government agencies’ own survey responses provide little evidence that pension benefits are driving any recruitment difficulties.
    — Mariana Trujillo, Oc Register, 11 Aug. 2026
  • The church has no difficulty prescribing specifics when the subject is autonomous lethal weapons.
    — Foreign Affairs, Foreign Affairs, 10 Aug. 2026
Definition of difficulty
Noun
  • The study’s findings also highlight the need for physicians to be alert to early signs of disease and consider blood pressure treatment, even in younger people, according to Freeman.
    — Sandee LaMotte, CNN Money, 12 Aug. 2026
  • Etzel noted that the order makes several significant changes, which include reducing the number of diseases targeted by childhood vaccines and separating the measles-mumps-rubella vaccine into individual shots.
    — Adisa Hargett-Robinson, The Washington Examiner, 12 Aug. 2026
Definition of disease
Noun
  • As families grow and increase in complexity over time, different members often also have varying objectives around liquidity.
    — Nick Lichtenberg, Fortune, 13 Aug. 2026
  • In practical terms, the study suggests a preference for agentic AI to simplify drudge work and logistics, such as narrowing choices or suggesting better options, rather than taking full control of emotionally loaded or high-complexity decisions.
    — Arthur Zaczkiewicz, Footwear News, 13 Aug. 2026
Definition of complexity
Noun
  • Medics treat heat stroke and other ailments from trailers while an announcer calls out an endless stream of names of people separated from their families.
    — Jane Arraf, NPR, 10 Aug. 2026
  • During his time in the minors, Mayer dealt with hip, back, shoulder and wrist ailments.
    — Justice delos Santos, Mercury News, 9 Aug. 2026
Definition of ailment
Noun
  • Several iterations of the idea have since taken shape, expanding to refugees, students with intellectual and developmental disabilities, seniors with chronic illness.
    — Tess Kenny, Chicago Tribune, 15 Aug. 2026
  • The sources haven’t been identified for nine of the ongoing foodborne illness outbreaks and two of the ongoing Salmonella outbreaks.
    — Bruce Y. Lee, Forbes.com, 15 Aug. 2026
Definition of illness
Noun
  • One owner of an EFL club, who spoke to The Athletic on the condition of anonymity to protect relationships, was more pessimistic.
    — Chris Weatherspoon, New York Times, 14 Aug. 2026
  • The last three Democratic presidents inherited terrible economic conditions and had to spend to rescue the country from soaring joblessness, the housing crisis and the pandemic, respectively.
    — Chicago Tribune, Chicago Tribune, 14 Aug. 2026
Definition of condition
Noun
  • Blaming billionaire wealth-hoarding for America’s ills would poll very well among the nation’s anthropology departments.
    — Gilad Edelman, The Atlantic, 19 July 2026
  • Last month, Kwon’s team, in collaboration with Seongju Kim at Hanbat National University, in Daejeon, South Korea, presented its solution to HBM’s future ills.
    — IEEE Spectrum, IEEE Spectrum, 8 July 2026
Definition of ill
Noun
  • A number of cardiovascular conditions—including atrial fibrillation, a common heart rhythm disorder—are linked to cardiac neurons.
    — Isabella Backman, Hartford Courant, 14 Aug. 2026
  • The study connected gut inflammation in 12 children to neurodevelopmental disorders such as autism.
    — Brenda Goodman, CNN Money, 14 Aug. 2026
Definition of disorder

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complication
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Cite this Entry

“Complication.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/complication. Accessed 16 Aug. 2026.

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Nglish: Translation of complication for Spanish Speakers

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