complications

noun

plural of complication
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

Synonyms & Similar Words

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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

Synonyms & Similar Words

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 complications While the investigation continues, the sardine deaths have caused other complications. — Michelle Gumede, Los Angeles Times, 29 Aug. 2026 There were also legal complications over the film rights until Schwarzenegger convinced Carolco Pictures, the studio behind Total Recall (1990), to buy everyone out and hire Cameron to make Judgment Day. — ArsTechnica, 28 Aug. 2026 Children under the age of 5 who get measles are more likely to develop serious complications, including pneumonia and brain swelling, compared with older kids. — Brenda Goodman, CNN Money, 28 Aug. 2026 Other possible complications include liver disease, allergic reactions, low blood pressure, and, when abruptly discontinued, withdrawal symptoms. — Encyclopedia Britannica, 28 Aug. 2026 Other possible complications include local vein irritation, inflammation, worsening of existing infections and allergic reactions. — Victoria Forster, Forbes.com, 28 Aug. 2026 Pregnant women, newborns and young infants can face a higher risk of serious measles complications, the doctor noted. — Melissa Rudy, FOXNews.com, 28 Aug. 2026 Citing a statement from the family, TMZ reported that Wright died from heart failure coupled with complications from Marchiafava-Bignam disease. — Nellie Andreeva, Deadline, 22 Aug. 2026 And Skip, who died after complications from a surgery, was always there. — Alex Zietlow, Charlotte Observer, 22 Aug. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for complications
  1. difficulties
  2. diseases
  3. complexities
  4. illnesses
  5. ailments
  6. conditions
  7. sicknesses
  8. ills
Noun
  • If stress itself is taken as evidence that a relationship is unhealthy, the normal difficulties of human interaction begin to look pathological.
    — David H. Rosmarin, Time, 29 Aug. 2026
  • Summary Nigeria will rejoin FTSE Russell's frontier market equity indexes on September 21, reversing its 2023 removal due to foreign exchange repatriation difficulties.
    — Dara-Abasi Ita, Forbes.com, 28 Aug. 2026
Definition of difficulties
Noun
  • The lack of federal guidance, conflicting messages and potential barriers to immunizations worry public health officials because vaccination rates are already falling, leading to resurgences of dangerous diseases like measles.
    — Rob Stein, NPR, 2 Sep. 2026
  • More fertilizer will likely bring about a higher quality lawn, but along with that carpet-like appearance comes higher water demands, more mowing, and in some cases, a greater susceptibility to pests and diseases.
    — Megan Hughes, Better Homes & Gardens, 2 Sep. 2026
Definition of diseases
Noun
  • If physical gestures serve our relatives just fine, why did our own branch of the family tree gradually favor biological changes in our brains and anatomy that permitted our characteristic complexities in language and precision in speech?
    — Mike McRae September 02, New Atlas, 3 Sep. 2026
  • Commercial property management is its own profession with its own language, priorities, financial drivers and legal complexities.
    — David Crown, Forbes.com, 2 Sep. 2026
Definition of complexities
Noun
  • The question of defining a measles death hasn't come up much in recent decades because vaccination rates were high and measles illnesses and deaths had become rare.
    — Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 30 Aug. 2026
  • Thousands of people were sickened by foodborne illnesses this summer.
    — Dian Zhang, USA Today, 28 Aug. 2026
Definition of illnesses
Noun
  • Dawn had had a lifelong interest in homeopathy and spent hours obsessively detailing her children’s ailments.
    — Laura Preston, New Yorker, 30 Aug. 2026
  • Curry had lived with various ailments following a 2012 stroke.
    — Kory Grow, Rolling Stone, 26 Aug. 2026
Definition of ailments
Noun
  • Victoria’s contemporary rig, winches, and autopilot functionality allow for single-handed sailing in conditions that would keep its predecessor at the dock.
    — Michael Verdon, Robb Report, 30 Aug. 2026
  • While Karina was expected to stay well away from land, swells from the storm were likely to cause dangerous surf and rip current conditions along parts of southwest Mexico and the Baja California Peninsula, the hurricane center said.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 30 Aug. 2026
Definition of conditions
Noun
  • And while children, the elderly and those with certain sicknesses or medications are most susceptible to heat illness – these temperatures affect everyone.
    — Ashley Miznazi, Miami Herald, 17 July 2026
  • At the end of the day, both doctors agree that hotel stays shouldn’t deter people from traveling altogether, since there are always ways to proactively minimize exposure and subsequent sicknesses.
    — Joey Skladany, Travel + Leisure, 30 June 2026
Definition of sicknesses
Noun
  • Alex Pantling/Getty Images What is clear is that no one thinks the changes enacted in either the Championship or League One are a resolution to the EFL’s marked financial ills.
    — Chris Weatherspoon, New York Times, 14 Aug. 2026
  • 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
Definition of ills

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Cite this Entry

“Complications.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/complications. Accessed 5 Sep. 2026.

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