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
  • Also, ibogaine’s prolongation of the heart’s QT intervals carries a real risk of fatal arrhythmia.
    — Michelle Lhooq, New Yorker, 7 Aug. 2026
  • The rationing program will force many in the capital of San Juan and its surrounding neighborhoods to go without without water for 48 hour intervals, according to Puerto Rico's Aqueduct and Sewer Authority.
    — Christopher Cann, USA Today, 7 Aug. 2026
Definition of intervals
Noun
  • In a news release shared Tuesday, Verizon said that service interruptions affected people across Los Angeles County and other parts of the region after vandals cut multiple fiber cables.
    — Dean Fioresi, CBS News, 12 Aug. 2026
  • But Wills’ career has had numerous injury interruptions, most recently a leg injury in 2024 that required osteotomy surgery and kept him out of the 2025 season as well.
    — Dan Wiederer, New York Times, 12 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
  • Albies is an excellent contact hitter, putting the bat on the ball, and driving the ball to the gaps.
    — Bernie Pleskoff, Forbes.com, 11 Aug. 2026
  • Some pulses penetrate gaps in the forest canopy and bounce off the ground, reflecting back to the sensors.
    — Harriet Marsden, TheWeek, 10 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 14 Aug. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on parentheses

Nglish: Translation of parentheses for Spanish Speakers

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