parentheses

noun

plural of parenthesis
as in intervals
a break in continuity there was a parenthesis of silence when the microphone momentarily lost power

Synonyms & Similar Words

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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 parentheses Their ages as of the start of next season are in parentheses. — Zach Harper, New York Times, 4 Aug. 2026 The tutor recognized the expression, asked him to clarify his parentheses, and guided him through a second application of the difference-of-squares pattern. — Ray Ravaglia, Forbes.com, 21 July 2026 Top 10 best malls Here are USA Today readers’ 2026 selections of their favorite malls in the United States with last year’s rank in parentheses. — Howard Cohen, Miami Herald, 15 June 2026 Top 10 With records through Monday and previous rankings in parentheses. — Steve Millar, Chicago Tribune, 25 May 2026 The prose is hypnotic, all the more so for its many digressions and parentheses, unveiling tiny set pieces like so many Fabergé eggs. — Literary Hub, 13 May 2026 Salary values for 2026-27 in parentheses. — Zack Cox, Boston Herald, 8 May 2026 The last two highlight lines alter the way Vim highlights matching parentheses by changing the highlight method to an underline instead of a big full-height cursor-emulating block. — Lee Hutchinson, ArsTechnica, 6 May 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for parentheses
  1. intervals
  2. interruptions
  3. hiatuses
  4. gaps
  5. pauses
Noun
  • Weeks 4 through 6 drop the rest intervals and build to a continuous 20-, 25- and then 30-minute walk.
    — Samantha Agate, Miami Herald, 31 July 2026
  • That translates into maintenance sessions at five- to eight-year intervals.
    — Shawn Tully, Fortune, 23 July 2026
Definition of intervals
Noun
  • Electricity failures are often coupled with internet and cellular service interruptions, hindering communication via text messaging, phone calls, social media and email at precisely the time it’s needed most.
    — Fiona Doherty, The Conversation, 5 Aug. 2026
  • In recent years, there were delays and interruptions because of weather, but not full days getting vanquished.
    — Jeff Vorva, Chicago Tribune, 3 Aug. 2026
Definition of interruptions
Noun
  • Despite his enduring success, Rollins was never quite satisfied with his art, occasionally taking lengthy hiatuses from playing and consistently adopting eclectic new styles.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 25 May 2026
  • Over nearly two decades, BIGBANG has weathered member departures, legal controversies, and years-long hiatuses.
    — Hanna Wickes, Sacbee.com, 20 Mar. 2026
Definition of hiatuses
Noun
  • But our meetings with families and older community members in senior centers throughout Arizona affirmed that gaps in memory care are systemic rather than isolated.
    — Eric Cerino, The Conversation, 3 Aug. 2026
  • In 1983, the NBA faced a far more daunting future than the NCAA does now, with revenue gaps endangering teams and unchecked free agency hurting the game’s image.
    — Charles Grantham, Sportico.com, 3 Aug. 2026
Definition of gaps
Noun
  • When thoughtful pauses disappear, organizations eventually lose the ability to think collectively.
    — Gerald J. Leonard, Forbes.com, 6 Aug. 2026
  • Smaller and more rural jurisdictions have also adopted one-year pauses, including Queen Anne’s County on the Eastern Shore and Washington County in Western Maryland.
    — Christine Condon, Baltimore Sun, 5 Aug. 2026
Definition of pauses

Browse Nearby Words

parented
parentheses
parenthesis
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Cite this Entry

“Parentheses.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/parentheses. Accessed 7 Aug. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on parentheses

Nglish: Translation of parentheses for Spanish Speakers

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