interruption

noun

ˌin-tə-ˈrəp-shən How to pronounce interruption (audio)
Definition of interruptionnext
1
as in interval
a break in continuity an interruption in cable service during the lightning storm

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in pause
a momentary halt in an activity a brief interruption in the discussion while we all got coffee

Synonyms & Similar Words

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 interruption Further supply interruptions could push oil prices to $150 or even $200 a barrel. — Richard Haass, Foreign Affairs, 23 Sep. 2026 Practitioners describe them as brief interruptions in familiar patterns. — Hanna Wickes, Kansas City Star, 22 Sep. 2026 The program employs outreach professionals who work on community outreach, public education, conflict mediation and violence interruption. — Bryan Lynn, CBS News, 15 Sep. 2026 Celebrities including Lupita Nyong’o, Sharon Stone, John Boyega and Michelle Williams attended at the WSA Building in downtown Manhattan for this season’s show, which continued despite the interruption. — Oscar Holland, CNN Money, 14 Sep. 2026 See All Example Sentences for interruption
Recent Examples of Synonyms for interruption
  1. interval
  2. pause
  3. hiatus
  4. lull
  5. gap
  6. breath
  7. break
Noun
  • Salad assembly Split the heads lengthwise, then cut crosswise at approximately 1-inch intervals, creating a mix of naturally different-sized pieces.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 2 Oct. 2026
  • That authority only allowed the tariffs to last for 150 days — but in that interval, the federal trade court ruled against them.
    — Kevin Breuninger, CNBC, 30 Sep. 2026
Definition of interval
Noun
  • Customs and Border Protection paused all activity there, but that pause expired on September 30.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 2 Oct. 2026
  • Everyone stress-tests the checkout, then quietly buries returns, cancellations and subscription pauses.
    — Expert Panel®, Forbes.com, 2 Oct. 2026
Definition of pause
Noun
  • After a brief hiatus, Francisco returned to the stage in 2014, with a recording of his 2019 Joe’s Pub set arriving as a live album in 2020.
    — Kyle Denis, Billboard, 28 Sep. 2026
  • The arrival of 6-year-old male Ping Ping and 5-year-old female Fu Shuang ends the zoo’s two-year hiatus without any giant pandas, which were a beloved staple at Zoo Atlanta since 1999.
    — Taylor Croft, AJC.com, 27 Sep. 2026
Definition of hiatus
Noun
  • The Crimson Tide quieted concerns about slow starts and recovered from a third-quarter lull.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 26 Sep. 2026
  • Burns acknowledged owing $3,000 in rent after falling two weeks behind, citing a lull in business.
    — Tanasia Kenney, Charlotte Observer, 24 Sep. 2026
Definition of lull
Noun
  • Wages and investment returns Fink tied the career argument to a gap between people who own assets and people who earn wages.
    — Nick Lichtenberg, Fortune, 2 Oct. 2026
  • The gap between demos and reality As Balzano explained, humanoid robots are regularly marketed as flexible, general-purpose workers.
    — Christopher McFadden, Interesting Engineering, 2 Oct. 2026
Definition of gap
Noun
  • Residents of the Pierre’s 77 apartments and the 400+ employees who’d lose their jobs in case of a sale will have to hold their breath.
    — Noah Shachtman, Vanity Fair, 29 Sep. 2026
  • In moments of high stress, pause and take a few intentional breaths before considering what is really driving your emotions.
    — Majd Al-Waheidi, NPR, 28 Sep. 2026
Definition of breath
Noun
  • The high-collar silhouette, a stand-up neckline that extends several inches above the shoulders with no lapel break, is showing up on runways, in mass-market store windows and across editorial coverage heading into the colder months.
    — Lauren Schuster, Miami Herald, 2 Oct. 2026
  • In a break from her party’s policies, Peltola has thrown her support behind the Alaska LNG project as way to lower energy costs for Alaskans.
    — Stephanie Yang, CNN Money, 2 Oct. 2026
Definition of break

Browse Nearby Words

interrupting
interruption
interruptions
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Cite this Entry

“Interruption.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/interruption. Accessed 5 Oct. 2026.

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