Synonyms for

Complication

Verb / ˌkɑ:mplʌˈkeɪʃʌn / Another word for complication — explore alternatives below. For syllable breakdowns and pronunciation, see this word on Syllablesworld.

Definition

Complication means a problem or difficulty that makes something harder to do or understand.

Synonyms & similar words

knottiness ramification complicatedness tortuousness problem difficulty obstacle challenge issue complexity trouble hardship entanglement muddle mess snarl tangle embarrassment predicament dilemma quandary impediment hindrance barrier

Synonyms by register

Formal

difficulty complexity intricacy problem

Informal

hitch snag issue trouble

Literary

quandary conundrum

Antonyms

simplicity ease clarity straightforwardness plainness uncomplication

Common collocations

  • medical complication
  • serious complication
  • unexpected complication
  • avoid complication
  • further complication
  • complication arises
  • complication of
  • reduce complication

Word family

noun complication
verb complicate
adjective complicated
adverb complicatedly

Usage note

Often used in medical contexts to describe an adverse event or secondary disease. Can also refer to any factor that makes a situation more complex or difficult.

Example sentences

  1. The complication of the surgery made her recovery longer than expected.
  2. The complication with the computer program caused it to crash.
  3. The complication in the story made it more interesting.
  4. The complication of the recipe made it harder to cook.
  5. The complication of the project made it take longer to finish.

Quotes

  • Life is a series of natural and spontaneous changes. Don't resist them; that only creates sorrow. Let reality be reality. Let things flow naturally forward in whatever way they like. - Lao Tzu
  • The greatest glory in living lies not in never falling, but in rising every time we fall. - Nelson Mandela
  • You can't cross the sea merely by standing and staring at the water. - Rabindranath Tagore

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