hiccups

noun

variants also hiccoughs
plural of hiccup
as in interruptions
a break in continuity the business has grown steadily for 14 years, with only a few minor hiccups

Synonyms & Similar Words

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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 hiccups Previously, Denno has said that the firing squad is the most humane and effective means of execution, with relatively few hiccups throughout American history. — Michael Ruiz, FOXNews.com, 11 Oct. 2026 The career included its hiccups, a not-yet-ready-for-primetime quarterback thrust into a starting role as a freshman, an on-campus protest in which the football team was lodged and, well, not as many wins as anyone involved would have liked. — Sam McDowell 9, Kansas City Star, 9 Oct. 2026 Meanwhile, Buffalo’s Josh Allen remains one of the most watchable quarterbacks in the league (this despite his recent hiccups), and the 3-1 Raiders proved their mettle last weekend against their divisional rivals. — Anthony Crupi, Sportico.com, 9 Oct. 2026 Sallitt depicts Jackie’s personal and professional struggles as specific hiccups that might manifest for anybody. — Vikram Murthi, IndieWire, 5 Oct. 2026 For his part, at 77 years old, Joel can’t entirely tell which health hiccups are a result of his age versus the disorder. — Larisha Paul, Rolling Stone, 30 Sep. 2026 Traveling cross-country to face a rabid Buffalo fanbase will not cure Herbert’s hiccups. — Bill Reinhard, New York Daily News, 24 Sep. 2026 The logistical hiccups caused the talk to begin late (a running theme at this year’s fest). — Marlow Stern, Variety, 17 Sep. 2026 Bussi took advantage of his opportunity last season and ended up clinching the Stanley Cup championship with a shutout in Las Vegas, but his miraculous campaign wasn’t without its hiccups. — Jesse Granger, New York Times, 15 Sep. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for hiccups
  1. interruptions
  2. intervals
  3. hiatuses
  4. gaps
  5. pauses
Noun
  • Shorter supply routes could help reduce exposure to transport interruptions and improve access to essential fuels during emergencies.
    — Sujita Sinha, Interesting Engineering, 13 Oct. 2026
  • Nicolás Pereda’s absurdist comedy centers on composer Rosa, who records a television interview at her colleague Tere’s apartment, where interruptions steadily derail the shoot.
    — Anna Marie de la Fuente, Variety, 9 Oct. 2026
Definition of interruptions
Noun
  • At irregular intervals, 27 leap seconds have been added to global clocks since 1972 – the last in 2016.
    — Harriet Marsden, TheWeek, 13 Oct. 2026
  • The Edge can display in-workout metrics and pace targets, heart rate zones for HIIT intervals, and other live figures to show you how your training is going.
    — New Atlas, New Atlas, 13 Oct. 2026
Definition of intervals
Noun
  • Manon Bannerman and Sophia Laforteza are taking separate hiatuses from Katseye; while Bannerman’s status in the group remains unknown, Laforteza’s mental-health break will continue until she’s reassessed in September.
    — Alejandra Gularte, Vulture, 24 Aug. 2026
  • Haircut 100, on the other hand, took some long hiatuses as a band.
    — Christopher Arnott, Hartford Courant, 23 Aug. 2026
Definition of hiatuses
Noun
  • The double-slit experiment, for example, is a classic setup where scientists send particles through two gaps in a screen and observe a resulting interference pattern, proving that the particles act as waves.
    — Philipp Strasberg, Scientific American, 20 Oct. 2026
  • Kyiv has since also reported gaps in intelligence sharing and restrictions on Elon Musk’s Starlink service, which is crucial for its drone missions, battlefield communications and air defense.
    — Yuliya Talmazan, NBC news, 19 Oct. 2026
Definition of gaps
Noun
  • Everyone stress-tests the checkout, then quietly buries returns, cancellations and subscription pauses.
    — Expert Panel®, Forbes.com, 2 Oct. 2026
  • But the situation is simply too perilous to entertain any more pauses.
    — Dmytro Kuleba, Foreign Affairs, 30 Sep. 2026
Definition of pauses

Browse Nearby Words

hiccup
hiccups
hic jacet
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Cite this Entry

“Hiccups.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/hiccups. Accessed 20 Oct. 2026.

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