hiatus

noun

hī-ˈā-təs How to pronounce hiatus (audio)
Definition of hiatusnext
1
as in gap
an open space in a barrier (as a wall or hedge) steam was rising from a hiatus in the ground

Synonyms & Similar Words

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2
as in void
an incomplete or deficient area a hiatus in the law which prevented the district attorney from prosecuting the offenders

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in interruption
a break in continuity a three-year hiatus before the fifth book in the series appeared

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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 hiatus What was supposed to be a 12-month recovery turned into a 12-year hiatus from the game — at any level. — Tony Maglio, HollywoodReporter, 24 Sep. 2026 After what’s felt like a yearslong hiatus, Pamela Anderson is back in her makeup era. — Kaleigh Werner, Footwear News, 23 Sep. 2026 After a brief hiatus in July and August, foreign investors have resumed selling Indian equities in September, data from depository firm NSDL showed. — Priyanka Salve, CNBC, 22 Sep. 2026 Part of us being on hiatus was a time of reflection and growing and shedding some skin, so to speak. — Brian Welk, IndieWire, 21 Sep. 2026 See All Example Sentences for hiatus
Recent Examples of Synonyms for hiatus
  1. gap
  2. void
  3. interruption
  4. hole
  5. interval
  6. pause
Noun
  • In 2021, Clemons helped launch the Wealth Accelerator, which is currently running an accelerated pilot of Connecticut’s baby bonds program in the hopes of learning more about how to close the racial wealth gap.
    — P.R. Lockhart, Hartford Courant, 26 Sep. 2026
  • Communities of color and low-income neighborhoods already face higher rates of obesity, diabetes and heart disease because of long-standing gaps in access to health care, preventive care and affordable healthy food.
    — Disha Narang, Chicago Tribune, 25 Sep. 2026
Definition of gap
Noun
  • When traditional lenders decline a career without conventional collateral, alternative capital fills the void—often on terms heavily stacked against young players.
    — Chris Koras, Sportico.com, 28 Sep. 2026
  • But now that the company is phasing out Falcons in favor of focusing on Starship, there’s no guarantee Starship will fill the void left behind.
    — Jackie Wattles, CNN Money, 28 Sep. 2026
Definition of void
Noun
  • Map these touchpoints and evaluate whether your presence adds genuine value or creates unwanted interruption.
    — Jacquelyn LaMar Berney, Forbes.com, 29 Sep. 2026
  • Unfortunately, these were brief interludes in a smorgasbord of as many as six talks delivered with little interruption.
    — Bartolomeo Sala, The Dial, 29 Sep. 2026
Definition of interruption
Noun
  • On the other side of the field, the entrance to the gymnasium shed was a dark hole.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 28 Sep. 2026
  • These holes are notorious for getting plugged with debris, worsening water accumulation.
    — Kamron Sanders, Better Homes & Gardens, 27 Sep. 2026
Definition of hole
Noun
  • Improving that interval may matter as much as improving another model’s accuracy.
    — Shahen Minasyan, Forbes.com, 24 Sep. 2026
  • He was spotted on Gdańsk Bridge by rotating security cameras, but when the cameras came back around after an interval of several minutes, Chris was gone.
    — Matthew Carey, Deadline, 23 Sep. 2026
Definition of interval
Noun
  • Then someone from finance asks what the company got for the money, and the honest answer is a pause.
    — Boris Dzhingarov, Forbes.com, 25 Sep. 2026
  • Try the cheap partner-side fixes first, match the mid-tier device to the type of snoring and escalate to a doctor the moment breathing pauses enter the picture.
    — Lauren Schuster, Charlotte Observer, 24 Sep. 2026
Definition of pause

Browse Nearby Words

heydays
hiatus
hiatuses
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Cite this Entry

“Hiatus.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/hiatus. Accessed 2 Oct. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on hiatus

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about hiatus

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