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

Clashes between Islamist militants have become a central feature of the conflict wreaking havoc across the Sahel and West Africa, including in Nigeria, where Boko Haram has engaged in frequent battles with a splinter faction aligned with ISIS' Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP). —Tom O'Connor, MSNBC Newsweek, 14 Nov. 2025

The leader of the Jamaat-ul-Ahrar group, a splinter faction of the Pakistani Taliban or Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), claimed responsibility for the attack, according to the Associated Press, although another commander from the group denied association with the attack. —Miranda Jeyaretnam, Time, 12 Nov. 2025

Verb

War in Gaza The Democratic Party splintered over Israel and a war in Gaza, which began more than two years ago. —Ishani Desai, Sacbee.com, 14 Nov. 2025

As a former forensic scientist, Sheridan knows that textiles splinter off all the time, not just when they’re laundered or even during the manufacturing process. —Jasmin Malik Chua, Sourcing Journal, 7 Nov. 2025

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