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

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

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

Synonyms & Similar Words

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

Synonyms & Similar Words

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

For parents tempted by a cheap fix on social media, this is the one to pause on. — Samantha Agate, Charlotte Observer, 23 Oct. 2026 Push your hips back and bend your knees into a squat position, pausing when your thighs are parallel with the ground. — Sarah Stiefvater, Flow Space, 23 Oct. 2026

Noun

In September 2024, in the middle of combat, Israel agreed to daily nine-hour pauses so that 560,000 Palestinian children could get polio drops. — Arkansas Online, 23 Oct. 2026 Part of the confusion lies with the fact that the midterm elections could change the makeup of Congress, which could lead to new policies or pauses. — Anil Oza, STAT, 23 Oct. 2026 See All Example Sentences for pause

Recent Examples of Synonyms for pause

Verb

With more than seven million people packed into over 9,000 high-rises, efficiency is key here, and people will judge you for holding up lines, hesitating with your Octopus card, or lingering over your dim sum table while others are waiting.

— Lee Cobaj, Condé Nast Traveler, 20 Oct. 2026
So as facts and circumstances change, taxpayers should not hesitate to notify the IRS to avoid defaults and payment failures.

— Charles T. Almond III, Forbes.com, 20 Oct. 2026

Definition of hesitate

Noun

Still, multiple lobbyists tell me that a flurry of regulator activity has prompted an increase in advocacy for some despite a year that has been otherwise marked by a lull in major legislative activity ahead of the election.

— Megan R. Wilson, Washington Post, 22 Oct. 2026
The upshot of this is that George, who works the room in a sharp gray suit, a few tattoos peeking out, has plenty of opportunities to charismatically make things right, shaking hands and clasping shoulders and sending over lull-filling drinks.

— Helen Rosner, New Yorker, 18 Oct. 2026

Definition of lull

Noun

But the earnestness of their performances, the texture of their hesitation, makes the video far more compelling than any of its deepfake counterparts.

— Brady Brickner-Wood, New Yorker, 19 Oct. 2026
Decker said people who are homeless can feel hesitation to come into shelter, but Open Doors has built a rapport in the neighborhood and would want to stay.

— Chris Higgins, Kansas City Star, 18 Oct. 2026

Definition of hesitation

Verb

Miami Hurricanes star wide receiver Malachi Toney once again broke records on Saturday.

— Jordan McPherson, Miami Herald, 25 Oct. 2026
The Senate Democrats first elected in 1958 established a critical mass that would later drive the bipartisan super-majorities needed to break the filibuster and pass the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and the Voting Rights Act of 1965.

— Ron Elving, NPR, 24 Oct. 2026

Definition of break

Noun

In a video premiered on Monday, Cardi took over Tiny Desk and brought an eight-song masterclass in breath control, joy, and showmanship.

— Charisma Madarang, Rolling Stone, 20 Oct. 2026
His itinerary includes a stop in Cusco, which is around 3,350 meters above sea level, where there is roughly one-third less oxygen available per breath compared to sea-level.

— Christopher Lamb, CNN Money, 18 Oct. 2026

Definition of breath

Noun

Opposition or hesitancy has been less focused on Hasan's death sentence which has broad support among Republicans, but on the decision to broadcast it.

— ABC News, ABC News, 13 Oct. 2026
Consider the party’s hesitancy in addressing the financial ramifications of China’s demographic decline.

— Carl Minzner, Foreign Affairs, 5 Oct. 2026

Definition of hesitancy

Noun

These checkpoints allow a calculation to resume after an interruption instead of restarting from scratch.

— Kaif Shaikh, Interesting Engineering, 20 Oct. 2026
However, travelers could still face disruptions on the ground, with the embassy advising Americans to check for Metro station closures and other transportation interruptions before heading out.

— Andrea Margolis, FOXNews.com, 20 Oct. 2026

Definition of interruption

Noun

However, Pritzker’s hesitance to deploy a comprehensive solution to data centers could be his Achilles’ heel in the primaries.

— Patrick McNamara, Chicago Tribune, 6 Sep. 2026
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

Definition of hesitance

Browse Nearby Words

paupers

pause

paused

See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

Style

“Pause.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/pause. Accessed 26 Oct. 2026.

Copy Citation

Synonyms of pause

verb

noun

Example Sentences

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

disparate

Popular in Grammar & Usage

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

'Can' vs. 'May'

'Affect' vs. 'Effect'

More Commonly Mispronounced Words

'A' or 'an'? What about before 'h'? An Indefinite Article Guide

Popular in Wordplay

The Longest Long Words List

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

12 Lovely and Unusual Words for the Natural World

Why do we 'bury the lede?'

'Za' and 9 Other Words to Help You Win at SCRABBLE

Popular

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

The Longest Long Words List

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

Games & Quizzes