splinter

1 of 2

noun

splin·​ter ˈsplin-tər How to pronounce splinter (audio)
1
a
: a thin piece split or broken off lengthwise : sliver
b
: a small needlelike particle
2
: a group or faction broken away from a parent body
splinter adjective
splintery adjective

splinter

2 of 2

verb

splintered; splintering ˈsplin-tə-riŋ How to pronounce splinter (audio)
-triŋ

transitive verb

1
: to split or rend into long thin pieces : shiver
2
: to split into fragments, parts, or factions

Examples of splinter in a Sentence

Noun I got a splinter in my finger. There were splinters of glass everywhere. Verb The board splintered under his weight. The impact of the crash splintered the glass. groups that have splintered off to form new political movements a political party that has been splintered by disagreements
Recent Examples on the Web
Noun
Contents include different types and sizes of bandages and sterile dressings, antiseptic wipes, antibiotic ointment, tincture of benzoin, ibuprofen, aspirin, antihistamines, sting relief wipes, splinter tweezers, blister patches, and more. Jessica MacDonald, Travel + Leisure, 27 Feb. 2024 As the protest movement splinters, transitioning from highways to city halls, farmers will have another chance to air their grievances at the big annual International Agricultural Show at the end of February. Colette Davidson, The Christian Science Monitor, 2 Feb. 2024 The tunnels were the result of an ongoing dispute between the Chabad Lubavitch community and a more extremist splinter sect, which has long been embroiled in turmoil over ownership of the building housing the headquarters. Ej Dickson, Rolling Stone, 9 Jan. 2024 In 1978 a splinter faction, the Red Brigades, kidnapped Aldo Moro, a former prime minister who was the chairman of the centrist Christian Democratic Party. Clay Risen, New York Times, 22 Dec. 2023 The Adventure Kit Ultralight Watertight .5 comes with basic bandages, antiseptic cream, a variety over-the-counter pain and anti-inflammatory medicines, and travel-sized tools to help with splinters, scrapes, and cuts. Katherine Alex Beaven, Travel + Leisure, 8 Dec. 2023 But Take Note: While this kit comes with a splinter remover, tweezers aren't included. Katrina Cossey, Parents, 5 Oct. 2023 It’s made from a canvas material and is propped up by wood poles that are sanded down to prevent them from getting splinters. Nor'adila Hepburn, Southern Living, 17 Nov. 2023 If the shelf weakens and splinters into icebergs, the dam will break, and the ice sheet on land will accelerate its slide into the ocean. WIRED, 27 Oct. 2023
Verb
The landscape shimmered with color as if a giant rainbow had toppled and splintered across the ground. Roger Naylor, The Arizona Republic, 24 Feb. 2024 But since then, as different firms have splintered off in new directions, the initial groundswell has tapered too, making the plans even harder to implement. Jane Thier, Fortune, 23 Feb. 2024 The remaining members splintered off to form Audioslave with lead singer Chris Cornell, who would inevitably leave the band in 2007. Steven J. Horowitz, Variety, 4 Jan. 2024 The splintering echoes a comment De León made on the tape, bemoaning the lack of Latino political unity in Los Angeles compared with Black power. Gustavo Arellano, Los Angeles Times, 27 Feb. 2024 At the time, Jamaica had been splintered by the People’s National Party and the Jamaica Labour Party, with the tensions leading to intense violence in the run-up to an election. Arturo Conde, NBC News, 14 Feb. 2024 The thousands of people from churches, schools, and activist groups who are expected at the march on Friday represent a movement that is splintered over strategy and immediate goals. Elizabeth Dias, New York Times, 19 Jan. 2024 The company, increasingly viewed by Wall Street as an acquisition target, is eager to show that its facility with content can continue to draw the big crowds that investors, advertisers and distributors crave in an era when the rise of streaming video has splintered most TV audiences. Brian Steinberg, Variety, 7 Feb. 2024 Imagine the scenario: Trump has won the Electoral College with 46 percent of the vote because third-party candidates funded by Republican donors successfully splintered the anti-Trump coalition. Dan McLaughlin, National Review, 6 Feb. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'splinter.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Noun

Middle English, from Middle Dutch; akin to Middle Low German splinte splint

First Known Use

Noun

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Verb

1582, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of splinter was in the 14th century

Dictionary Entries Near splinter

Cite this Entry

“Splinter.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/splinter. Accessed 19 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

splinter

1 of 2 noun
splin·​ter ˈsplint-ər How to pronounce splinter (audio)
: a thin piece split or torn off lengthwise : sliver
splinter adjective

splinter

2 of 2 verb
splintered; splintering ˈsplint-ə-riŋ How to pronounce splinter (audio)
ˈsplin-triŋ
: to divide or break into splinters

Medical Definition

splinter

noun
splin·​ter ˈsplint-ər How to pronounce splinter (audio)
: a thin piece (as of wood) split or broken off lengthwise
especially : such a piece embedded in the skin
used tweezers to remove a splinter
splinter transitive verb
splintered; splintering ˈsplint-ə-riŋ, ˈsplin-triŋ How to pronounce splinter (audio)

More from Merriam-Webster on splinter

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