hiccups

noun

variants also hiccoughs
plural of hiccup
as in interruptions
a break in continuity the business has grown steadily for 14 years, with only a few minor hiccups

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

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 hiccups Last week in Cincinnati included a few hiccups, but those don’t negate the progress. — Dan Wiederer, New York Times, 26 Aug. 2026 To avoid any hiccups at border control, here's what to know about going to Europe in 2026. — Kathleen Wong, USA Today, 19 Aug. 2026 Josh D’Amaro’s been at the helm of the Walt Disney Company for about five months now, and — a couple blockbuster-size hiccups aside — things are going relatively well for the Bob Iger replacement. — Eric Vilas-Boas, Vulture, 5 Aug. 2026 There haven’t been any blatant hiccups through two 90-minute practices as Purdy develops noticeable chemistry with two new targets in Evans and second-round pick De’Zhaun Stribling. — Cam Inman, Mercury News, 27 July 2026 This unisex hat from Columbia is the answer to all your hat hiccups, with a moisture-wicking headband and UV-blocking sun protection fabric. — Kristin Braswell, Travel + Leisure, 22 July 2026 How motivated the Cowboys’ ownership group is to get the Super Bowl back to Arlington is up for debate, but the World Cup proved that any logistical or structural concerns that stemmed from a couple of hiccups back in 2011 no longer exist. — Nick Harris, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 15 July 2026 And, as with most engines, a timely tuneup helps ensure smooth and predictable functioning, avoiding hiccups or holdups. — The Christian Science Monitor, Christian Science Monitor, 15 July 2026 Our best advice for avoiding delays, hiccups and frustration on the way to vacation. — Natalie B. Compton, Washington Post, 8 July 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for hiccups
  1. interruptions
  2. intervals
  3. hiatuses
  4. gaps
  5. pauses
Noun
  • The explosions provide different interruptions, punctuating the moment as one of Keeley’s ideas plays out in real time.
    — Dessi Gomez, Deadline, 26 Aug. 2026
  • The state also acknowledged technical interruptions affecting some schools during this year’s testing window.
    — Katie Pace Miles, New York Daily News, 25 Aug. 2026
Definition of interruptions
Noun
  • By contrast, Hims ships larger quantities of products at less frequent intervals for a discount.
    — BestReviews, Chicago Tribune, 28 Aug. 2026
  • Korn says that Miller would call at the two hour mark, then 20 minutes later, and in decreasing intervals until Mica was home.
    — CT Jones, Rolling Stone, 26 Aug. 2026
Definition of intervals
Noun
  • Manon Bannerman and Sophia Laforteza are taking separate hiatuses from Katseye; while Bannerman’s status in the group remains unknown, Laforteza’s mental-health break will continue until she’s reassessed in September.
    — Alejandra Gularte, Vulture, 24 Aug. 2026
  • Haircut 100, on the other hand, took some long hiatuses as a band.
    — Christopher Arnott, Hartford Courant, 23 Aug. 2026
Definition of hiatuses
Noun
  • Your Next Listen — How far can philanthropy go to fill government gaps?
    — Adrian Ma, NPR, 24 Aug. 2026
  • After exhausting federal aid, grants, and scholarships, private student loans can help cover any remaining funding gaps.
    — Amy DeYoung, USA Today, 24 Aug. 2026
Definition of gaps
Noun
  • The postponements began shortly after federal judges this month rejected the administration’s attempts to use blanket pauses, rather than individual assessments, to prevent certain immigrants from receiving visas over public-charge concerns.
    — María Luisa Paúl, USA Today, 27 Aug. 2026
  • These pauses also give the documentary an air of mournful respect, making its pace more deliberate than the standard talking heads-doc that might be mistaken as a stylistic counterpart.
    — Beatrice Loayza, Variety, 21 Aug. 2026
Definition of pauses

Browse Nearby Words

hiccup
hiccups
hic jacet
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Hiccups.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/hiccups. Accessed 31 Aug. 2026.

Copy Citation
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

Listen to the pronunciation of gumption

See Definitions and Examples »

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

A Who’s Who Regarding ‘Who’s’ and ‘Whose’

Is it 'nerve-racking' or 'nerve-wracking'?

What's the difference between 'fascism' and 'socialism'?

Why does English have so many silent letters?

7 Pairs of Commonly Confused Words
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

Ye Olde Nincompoop: Old-Fashioned Words for 'Stupid'

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

Even More Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

Even More Bird Names that Sound Like Insults (and Sometimes Are)

12 Lovely and Unusual Words for the Natural World
See More

Popular

See More

A Who’s Who Regarding ‘Who’s’ and ‘Whose’

Ye Olde Nincompoop: Old-Fashioned Words for 'Stupid'

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of
See More

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
The Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
skateboard-dog-hat
Wordmaxxing Slang Quiz Give your vocabulary a glow up by getting sendy w...
See All