as in demons
a source of persistent emotional distress
low self-esteem is only one of his many hang-ups
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Recent Examples of hang-ups
Fielder, playing a character but still very much himself, really wants to be a pilot, only to be held back by personal hang-ups.
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Roxana Hadadi, Vulture, 1 Dec. 2025
Big beauty business moguls get skin hang-ups and sensitivities too, and have to work at their skin just like the rest of us to enjoy that celebrity glow.
—Anna Cafolla, Vogue, 26 Oct. 2025
But destiny and a magical GPS system have reunited them on a road trip of the soul, on which boy and girl will reconcile themselves with their hang-ups and traumas and, just maybe, learn to love one another.
—Richard Lawson, HollywoodReporter, 16 Sep. 2025
House Republicans are still at odds over the state and local tax (SALT) deduction cap, which has emerged as one of the biggest — and most complicated — hang-ups dogging the party’s megabill.
—Mychael Schnell, The Hill, 14 May 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for hang-ups
demons
Noun
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As Amadeus’ brilliance continues to flourish in spite of his personal demons, a questionable reputation and skepticism from the conservative court, Salieri becomes increasingly tormented by this apparent divine gift.—
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Allan Webster is a talented man with dreams and ambition — and demons, plenty of demons.—
Cite this Entry
“Hang-ups.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/hang-ups. Accessed 20 Jan. 2026.
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