PAUSE Synonyms: 111 Similar and Opposite Words

pause 1 of 2

verb

Definition of pause

as in to hesitate

to come to a temporary halt in one's activity he paused for a moment to regain his composure

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

pause

2 of 2

noun

ˈpȯz

as in lull

a momentary halt in an activity there was a brief pause for applause in her speech

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in hesitation

a state or an instance of temporary inaction because of uncertainty about the right course of action the question caught the professor off guard, and there was a pause before he responded

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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 pause

Verb

The approach of the former was to pause and bask; the latter, to launch with his backup dancers into a complicated set of steps. — Doreen St. Félix, New Yorker, 18 Aug. 2026 Now, eight years and nearly two full terms later, the governor has paused those incentives as the onset of data centers has stressed energy and water resources and public opinion has swiftly turned against the tech behemoths. — Ben Szalinski, Chicago Tribune, 18 Aug. 2026

Noun

But advocates like VanDiver said the letters, alongside the crumbling of other programs like Temporary Protected Status and immigration application pauses, cause confusion and fear. — Ximena Bustillo, NPR, 15 Aug. 2026 Leon concluded that a pause wouldn’t jeopardize national security. — Michael Kunzelman, Fortune, 15 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for pause

Recent Examples of Synonyms for pause

Verb

The reasons customers hesitate, why deals stall, or what causes operational issues to repeat themselves are often revealed in conversation, not in structured fields.

— Malana VanTyler, USA Today, 18 Aug. 2026
People interrupt each other, hesitate to speak up, overlook important perspectives, or drift away from the purpose of the meeting.

— Alison Wood Brooks, Harvard Business Review, 17 Aug. 2026

Definition of hesitate

Noun

Once, in the blessed era before the 24/7 news cycle and the omnipresence of social media, there was a lull in the months after the primary, with campaign activities picking back up around Labor Day.

— Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 20 Aug. 2026
But hawks on both sides are already casting this lull as an opportunity for both countries to hone their weapons for the next fight.

— GLORIA XIONG, Foreign Affairs, 18 Aug. 2026

Definition of lull

Noun

Founders will notice hesitation, enthusiasm, chemistry, confidence, uncertainty, who’s influencing the room, whether the customer is actually excited.

— Alison Coleman, Forbes.com, 18 Aug. 2026
His flowering is optimal for someone who hosts a show called The Reluctant Traveler, and Levy and director David Brindley both agree that the comedian’s hesitations have waned — at least a little.

— Matthew Jacobs, HollywoodReporter, 17 Aug. 2026

Definition of hesitation

Verb

Taylor splashed a wide-open triple from the top of the arc with 30 seconds to go to give tie the game, and then broke the visitors hearts to improve the Sky’s record to 14-22.

— Joseph Dycus, Mercury News, 22 Aug. 2026
That assumption is starting to break, and most enterprises aren't measuring the break.

— Himanshu Sinha, Forbes.com, 21 Aug. 2026

Definition of break

Noun

In the same breath, though, there are the guarantees that hold an attraction.

— Philip Buckingham, New York Times, 19 Aug. 2026
That’s when Way mutters the p-word — under his breath for plausible deniability, but certainly still with the intention of being heard, smirking at the sound of my laughter.

— Selome Hailu, Variety, 18 Aug. 2026

Definition of breath

Noun

Two committee Republicans voiced hesitancy on Blanche Two committee Republicans placed conditions on supporting Blanche's pathway to a full Senate vote.

— Aysha Bagchi, USA Today, 4 Aug. 2026
During the panel, Flanagan shared that there were initial hesitancies about creating the series.

— Carly Tagen-Dye, PEOPLE, 27 July 2026

Definition of hesitancy

Noun

Dexter grapples with killing her, but Rudy eventually can’t handle Dexter’s hesitance and takes the knife into his own hands—and nearly plunges it into Debra’s chest before Dexter stops him.

— EW Staff, Entertainment Weekly, 25 June 2026
That hesitance in the Republican Party coexists with palpable relief that there’s a ceasefire agreement in the Middle East after months of strikes on Iran.

— Burgess Everett, semafor.com, 15 June 2026

Definition of hesitance

Browse Nearby Words

paupers

pause

paused

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Style

“Pause.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/pause. Accessed 22 Aug. 2026.

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Synonyms of pause

verb

noun

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