PARENTHESIS Synonyms: 38 Similar and Opposite Words

parenthesis

noun

pə-ˈren(t)-thə-səs

Definition of parenthesis

as in interval

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

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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 work, of course, remains unfinished, although the parenthesis’s open-endedness functioned like a magnet for countless later writers, inviting them to graft their versions of how the book should continue. — Literary Hub, 18 Aug. 2026 Their ages as of the start of next season are in parentheses. — Zach Harper, New York Times, 4 Aug. 2026 Where else could Alfred, Lord Tennyson, share a parenthesis with Ed Sheeran and the Foo Fighters? — Anthony Lane, New Yorker, 3 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 See All Example Sentences for parenthesis

Recent Examples of Synonyms for parenthesis

Noun

Since 1972, timekeepers have added 27 positive leap seconds to UTC, at very irregular intervals.

— Vahe Peroomian, The Conversation, 8 Oct. 2026
Named Maai after a Japanese term (ma-ai) relating to meaningful spacing, timing, or intervals, the 154-foot superyacht combines Japanese restraint with Italian conviviality to create an onboard environment that can be both zen and buzzy.

— Rachel Cormack, Robb Report, 7 Oct. 2026

Definition of interval

Noun

If every interruption becomes a priority, planning gradually disappears.

— Julien Fortuit, Forbes.com, 6 Oct. 2026
The five original Nobel Prizes were created under the terms of Swedish inventor and industrialist Alfred Nobel’s will and have been awarded since 1901, with only limited interruptions, chiefly during World War I and World War II.

— Reuters, NBC news, 5 Oct. 2026

Definition of interruption

Noun

Just look at the way Manon Bannerman’s hiatus from KATSEYE has dominated discourse around the group for nearly eight months and counting.

— Kyle Denis, Billboard, 12 Oct. 2026
Danny Wimmer Presents, the group behind GoldenSky and Aftershock in Sacramento, announced the dates for the festival’s return following a two-year hiatus.

— Camila Pedrosa, Sacbee.com, 12 Oct. 2026

Definition of hiatus

Noun

Prior to the pause, Verizon had told the FCC that the old-school copper networks will remain in place for areas where its replacement solution falls short of Commission standards.

— Michael Kan, PC Magazine, 9 Oct. 2026
But, in a moment where the AI industry is filled with existential anxiety, and even its leaders are calling for brakes, Haugen isn’t advocating for a pause in AI development.

— Beatrice Nolan, Fortune, 8 Oct. 2026

Definition of pause

Noun

The new version centers on Dalin, a single mother who designs bridal gowns and whose devotion to her job has opened a gap between her and her 10-year-old daughter Mina.

— Naman Ramachandran, Variety, 10 Oct. 2026
But the artist has left gaps where the musician had personal photos of friends and family framed.

— Hikmat Mohammed, ARTnews.com, 10 Oct. 2026

Definition of gap

Browse Nearby Words

parentheses

parenthesis

parenthetically

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“Parenthesis.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/parenthesis. Accessed 13 Oct. 2026.

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Synonyms of parenthesis

noun

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