discontinuity

noun

(ˌ)dis-ˌkän-tə-ˈnü-ə-tē How to pronounce discontinuity (audio)
Definition of discontinuitynext
1
as in gap
an open space in a barrier (as a wall or hedge) microscopic discontinuities in the connecting wires

Synonyms & Similar Words

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2
as in interruption
a break in continuity a noticeable discontinuity in the flow of the story

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 discontinuity The researchers were trying to test a concept known as temporal discontinuity, in which a brief amount of time passes between the introduction of an item and the assignment of its name. — New Atlas, 9 Jan. 2026 Josefowicz, in her decathlon of a performance, brought Ligeti’s savage discontinuities to the surface. — Alex Ross, New Yorker, 29 June 2026 Advertisement Rather than a drastic discontinuity, Moltbook is best understood as the latest (and largest) in a line of experiments that tease out the limits of AI agents. — Tharin Pillay, Time, 3 Feb. 2026 Seismologists identified 459 earthquakes since 1990 that occurred beneath the Mohorovičić discontinuity. — Rafil Kroll-Zaidi, Harpers Magazine, 24 Mar. 2026 See All Example Sentences for discontinuity
Recent Examples of Synonyms for discontinuity
  1. gap
  2. interruption
  3. hole
  4. interval
  5. hiatus
Noun
  • Actress Mariska Hargitay, who joined Swift courtside at Madison Square Garden during Game 4 of the NBA Finals, appears to have one notable gap in her Broadway schedule.
    — Bryan West, USA Today, 4 July 2026
  • By the end of the match, the vast gap in the teams’ rankings had been reduced to only one goal.
    — Tim Rohan, NBC news, 4 July 2026
Definition of gap
Noun
  • The result can be a more consistent connection, fewer interruptions and less of that infuriating mid-episode quality drop.
    — Kurt Knutsson, FOXNews.com, 30 June 2026
  • Conducted at Longcheer Technology’s electronics manufacturing facility, the robots carried out tasks including tablet inspection, defect sorting, and material transport without interruption.
    — Jijo Malayil, Interesting Engineering, 29 June 2026
Definition of interruption
Noun
  • Mozeliak said the Angels should not consider a trade proposal in isolation, without considering how to flex their major-market muscles to fill whatever hole a trade might create.
    — Bill Shaikin, Los Angeles Times, 6 July 2026
  • The difference between these two measurements gives the exciton binding energy, a key quantity that determines how strongly the electron and hole remain bound together.
    — Rupendra Brahambhatt, Interesting Engineering, 5 July 2026
Definition of hole
Noun
  • When asked to run similar projections while modeling for factors such as return variability, family income and investor behavior, Morningstar showcases a more subdued picture of financial health for account holders at the same intervals.
    — Ryan Ermey, CNBC, 3 July 2026
  • Participants also self-selected their time interval, and outcomes were self-reported, which may introduce participant bias.
    — Allison Forsyth, Health, 30 June 2026
Definition of interval
Noun
  • The production is also difficult vocally and physically, especially after a hiatus.
    — Janey Wetzel, PEOPLE, 6 July 2026
  • The festival has been on hiatus since last year, so maybe organizers have time for a trip to New York?
    — Lisa Gutierrez, Kansas City Star, 2 July 2026
Definition of hiatus

Browse Nearby Words

discontinuities
discontinuity
discontinuous
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Cite this Entry

“Discontinuity.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/discontinuity. Accessed 8 Jul. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on discontinuity

Nglish: Translation of discontinuity for Spanish Speakers

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