as in intrudes
to cause a disruption in a conversation or discussion
it's rude to interrupt when someone is making an important point
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Recent Examples of interrupts
When Ava interrupts to bring Deborah her cell phone, Kelly mistakes Ava for Deborah’s girlfriend and has a new understanding of her foe.
—
Erin Jensen, USA Today, 8 May 2026
Lane’s Willy is both a paternal tyrant and a wounded bear, growling if anyone interrupts him yet unable to conceal his soft underbelly.
—Theater Critic, Los Angeles Times, 29 Apr. 2026
Regularly emptying or refreshing these areas interrupts their breeding cycle.
—Jessica Safavimehr, Southern Living, 26 Apr. 2026
That connection interrupts a trajectory that seemed to be heading toward harm.
—Nicole Hockley, HollywoodReporter, 23 Apr. 2026
Throughout the show, Bibo interrupts Julio, changes the subject.
—Adam Moss, Vulture, 17 Apr. 2026
She’s first shown wearing a skimpy dog costume as she and Nate’s housekeeper, Juana (Minerva Garcia), records until Nate comes home and angrily interrupts, disapproving of Cassie’s side hustle.
—Selome Hailu, Variety, 13 Apr. 2026
Any breakdown interrupts the missile’s ability to stay on course.
—Aamir Khollam, Interesting Engineering, 9 Apr. 2026
These pests are easy to squish, and this is time well spent, since there are up to five generations of these pests a year and elimination in the spring interrupts their life cycle and minimizes our rose slug angst for the remainder of the year.
—Rita Perwich, San Diego Union-Tribune, 4 Apr. 2026
Erin Jensen, USA Today, 8 May 2026
Lane’s Willy is both a paternal tyrant and a wounded bear, growling if anyone interrupts him yet unable to conceal his soft underbelly.
—Theater Critic, Los Angeles Times, 29 Apr. 2026
Regularly emptying or refreshing these areas interrupts their breeding cycle.
—Jessica Safavimehr, Southern Living, 26 Apr. 2026
That connection interrupts a trajectory that seemed to be heading toward harm.
—Nicole Hockley, HollywoodReporter, 23 Apr. 2026
Throughout the show, Bibo interrupts Julio, changes the subject.
—Adam Moss, Vulture, 17 Apr. 2026
She’s first shown wearing a skimpy dog costume as she and Nate’s housekeeper, Juana (Minerva Garcia), records until Nate comes home and angrily interrupts, disapproving of Cassie’s side hustle.
—Selome Hailu, Variety, 13 Apr. 2026
Any breakdown interrupts the missile’s ability to stay on course.
—Aamir Khollam, Interesting Engineering, 9 Apr. 2026
These pests are easy to squish, and this is time well spent, since there are up to five generations of these pests a year and elimination in the spring interrupts their life cycle and minimizes our rose slug angst for the remainder of the year.
—Rita Perwich, San Diego Union-Tribune, 4 Apr. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for interrupts
Verb
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The plaintiffs in Wednesday's lawsuit argued the order unconstitutionally intrudes on Congress and the states' power to regulate elections, since the Constitution doesn't give the president any direct authority over how federal elections are conducted.—
Jacob Rosen,
CBS News,
2 Apr. 2026
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Currently, a team of local researchers in North Carolina is collaborating to better understand how dredging may lead to the formation of more ghost forests and salinity, in an effort to gauge just how salt water intrudes the river system and how much salt water is needed to impact local ecosystems.—
Patrick Sisson,
Scientific American,
9 Mar. 2026
Verb
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The constantly evolving display of colors and textures adds life to your landscape while supporting biodiversity.—
Ann Hinga Klein,
Martha Stewart,
28 Apr. 2026
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The formation’s long academic history adds another layer.—
Matthew Kayser,
USA Today,
28 Apr. 2026
Verb
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The timeliness of filing cases bothers him.—
Shelley Jones,
Chicago Tribune,
28 Apr. 2026
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None of that, nor the fact Beckham missed all of 2025, bothers Harbaugh.—
Armando Salguero OutKick,
FOXNews.com,
20 Apr. 2026
Verb
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The music video interposes clips of a nation on fire—thieves and looters running rampant, protesters spitting in cops’ faces—with footage of Aldean and his band playing in front of a courthouse in Columbia, Tennessee, vowing to deliver justice.—
Mitch Therieau,
New Yorker,
7 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Interrupts.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/interrupts. Accessed 9 May. 2026.
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