splinter

1 of 2

noun

splin·​ter ˈsplin-tər 

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

ˈsplin-tə-rē 

-trē

adjective

splinter

2 of 2

verb

splintered; splintering ˈsplin-tə-riŋ 

-triŋ

transitive verb

1

: to split or rend into long thin pieces : shiver

2

: to split into fragments, parts, or factions

intransitive verb

: to become splintered

Synonyms of splinter

Noun

• chip
• sliver
• fragment
• shard
• flake

Verb

• slice
• chop
• split

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

Los Lobos emerged as a splinter organization from Los Choneros and has established routes into Mexico through relationships with organizations including Cartel de Jalisco Nueva Generación, Treasury said. — Antonio María Delgado, Miami Herald, 20 Aug. 2026

One day, while washing a wooden cutting board, a splinter lodged in my left index finger. — E. Tammy Kim, New Yorker, 15 Aug. 2026

Verb

The ballot measure has splintered California Democrats and their allies, who are at odds over which public services would receive a portion of the revenue and Proposition 40’s long-term impact on the state budget. — Los Angeles Times, 18 Aug. 2026

Alliances are splintering, and not just Western ones; consider the disarray in the Gulf Cooperation Council. — Mark Leonard, Foreign Affairs, 18 Aug. 2026

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

Phrases Containing splinter

• splinter group

Rhymes for splinter

• minter
• printer
• sinter
• sprinter
• winter
• midwinter
• reenter
• overwinter
• teleprinter

Kids Definition

splinter

1 of 2 noun

splin·​ter ˈsplint-ər 

: a thin piece split or torn off lengthwise : sliver

splinter adjective

splinter

2 of 2 verb

splintered; splintering ˈsplint-ə-riŋ 

ˈsplin-triŋ

: to divide or break into splinters

Medical Definition

splinter

noun

splin·​ter ˈsplint-ər 

: 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