parenthesis

noun

pə-ˈren(t)-thə-səs How to pronounce parenthesis (audio)
Definition of parenthesisnext
as in interval
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 parenthesis 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 See the full list of this year’s Peabody Award winners below, listed by category and in alphabetical order (with network/platform in parentheses). — Marcus Jones, IndieWire, 23 Apr. 2026 See All Example Sentences for parenthesis
Recent Examples of Synonyms for parenthesis
  1. interval
  2. interruption
  3. hiatus
  4. pause
  5. gap
Noun
  • The four-hour production (which includes a 20 minute interval) is set just before the events in Martin’s novels and will follow the great houses of Westeros as ambition, family bonds and succession collide during the reign of the Mad King.
    — K.J. Yossman, Variety, 24 July 2026
  • Save intervals, heavy lifts and hard runs for earlier in the evening or the next morning.
    — Lauren Jarvis-Gibson July 23, Miami Herald, 23 July 2026
Definition of interval
Noun
  • The robot immediately responds to the interruption and halts the operation, illustrating Unitree’s focus on continuous human-robot interaction and dynamic task adaptation.
    — Jijo Malayil, Interesting Engineering, 21 July 2026
  • The money sits in the business interruption and the extra expense, the long dead stretch while a specialised transformer or a particular chip waits on an 18-month backorder.
    — Dara-Abasi Ita, Forbes.com, 20 July 2026
Definition of interruption
Noun
  • The halftime show performers BTS (co-headliner) The popular K-pop group returns after military conscription forced its multi-year hiatus.
    — Steven Louis Goldstein, New York Times, 19 July 2026
  • The band released four studio albums before going on an indefinite hiatus in 2002.
    — Meredith Wilshere, PEOPLE, 19 July 2026
Definition of hiatus
Noun
  • Long way to go Reportedly, ZeroAvia faced financial constraints that forced a recent workforce reduction and the pause of its in-house electric propulsion and ZA600 powertrain developments.
    — Mrigakshi Dixit, Interesting Engineering, 20 July 2026
  • That order could keep the merger on pause indefinitely while the litigation moves forward, which means it could be paused for years, unless an appeals court overrules her.
    — Alison Durkee, Forbes.com, 20 July 2026
Definition of pause
Noun
  • But, in the background, cost of living woes were worsening for others, and the wealth gap was widening.
    — Alicia Wallace, CNN Money, 25 July 2026
  • Robot tracks victims, retrieves The system is aimed at a critical gap in maritime search and rescue.
    — Neetika Walter, Interesting Engineering, 24 July 2026
Definition of gap

Browse Nearby Words

parentheses
parenthesis
parenthetically
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Cite this Entry

“Parenthesis.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/parenthesis. Accessed 25 Jul. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on parenthesis

Nglish: Translation of parenthesis for Spanish Speakers

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about parenthesis

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