Synonym Chooser

How is the word member distinct from other similar nouns?

Some common synonyms of member are division, fragment, part, piece, portion, section, and segment. While all these words mean "something less than the whole," member suggests one of the functional units composing a body.

a structural member

In what contexts can division take the place of member?

While in some cases nearly identical to member, division applies to a large or diversified part.

the manufacturing division of the company

When is fragment a more appropriate choice than member?

Although the words fragment and member have much in common, fragment applies to a part produced by or as if by breaking off.

only a fragment of the play still exists

When is it sensible to use part instead of member?

The words part and member are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, part is a general term appropriate when indefiniteness is required.

they ran only part of the way

When would piece be a good substitute for member?

While the synonyms piece and member are close in meaning, piece applies to a separate or detached part of a whole.

a puzzle with 500 pieces

Where would portion be a reasonable alternative to member?

In some situations, the words portion and member are roughly equivalent. However, portion implies an assigned or allotted part.

cut the pie into six portions

When can section be used instead of member?

The words section and member can be used in similar contexts, but section applies to a relatively small or uniform part.

the entertainment section of the newspaper

When might segment be a better fit than member?

The meanings of segment and member largely overlap; however, segment applies to a part separated or marked out by or as if by natural lines of cleavage.

the retired segment of the population

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 member Fountain's appointment to the five-member board is subject to the approval of the Little Rock Board of Directors. Joseph Flaherty, Arkansas Online, 8 Nov. 2025 Backed by the County Commission’s most powerful member, Chair Anthony Rodriguez, the A3 Foundation served as a financial clearinghouse for CountryFest, the county rodeo Rodriguez hosts each year in his district at Tropical Park. Douglas Hanks, Miami Herald, 8 Nov. 2025 Those who watched from the sidelines came out to show their support for veterans, family members who served, and some commemorated themselves as veterans. Idaho Statesman, 8 Nov. 2025 The honorees all were surrounded by family members, friends, teammates and mentors. Sal Pizarro, Mercury News, 8 Nov. 2025 See All Example Sentences for member
Recent Examples of Synonyms for member
Noun
  • Still, some military analysts remain cautious, noting that satellites are built to endure intense cosmic radiation with hardened components and shielding, leaving open the question of whether such directed energy could penetrate these defenses.
    Bojan Stojkovski, Interesting Engineering, 8 Nov. 2025
  • Tariffs can affect American producers indirectly, when many components involved in wine production come from overseas.
    Amalia Roy, FOXNews.com, 8 Nov. 2025
Noun
  • Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said a large portion of Iran's ballistic missile arsenal was destroyed during the first hours of the aerial attacks.
    MSNBC Newsweek, MSNBC Newsweek, 6 Nov. 2025
  • After battling two years of slowly deteriorating vision, Charton was able to claw back a small portion of her lost world.
    Jeffrey Kluger, Time, 6 Nov. 2025
Noun
  • The neutral tones and organic elements of the hotel’s 349 rooms and suites soothe the spirit and mirror the otherworldly atmosphere of the Riviera Maya.
    Robb Report Studio, Robb Report, 5 Nov. 2025
  • Depending on which elements are involved, airglow can appear in subtle shades of green, red or orange.
    Kenna Hughes-Castleberry, Space.com, 5 Nov. 2025
Noun
  • This show has always been a part of our love story.
    Okla Jones, Essence, 11 Nov. 2025
  • It’s not lost on many that Suharto was granted the posthumous honor by Prabowo – a longtime supporter of Suharto’s regime, and once a part of the strongman’s family.
    Jessie Yeung, CNN Money, 11 Nov. 2025
Noun
  • Nonpartisan experts who have studied the subject believe the increasing cost of upgrading the grid, with new transmission lines or other facilities, is the single factor most responsible for rate increases.
    Tom Rogers, MSNBC Newsweek, 6 Nov. 2025
  • Numerous factors hurt Detroit over many years, including a shrinking tax base, high unemployment and poverty, and rising health care and pension costs for city employees.
    Nathaniel Meyersohn, CNN Money, 5 Nov. 2025
Noun
  • The Table of Contents is divided along the parts of a young body, with sections titled Heads Up!
    Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 10 Nov. 2025
  • Barry points to the central section of the pitch, on either side of the halfway line, to make his point.
    Jack Pitt-Brooke, New York Times, 9 Nov. 2025
Noun
  • Schulman said the company will continue to rely on its better-for-you branding of fresh ingredients and more premium proteins that some diners may have to pay a couple extra dollars for.
    Sasha Rogelberg, Fortune, 5 Nov. 2025
  • Made with plush ingredients like fleece, flannel, or cotton, electric blankets are just like regular throws but with wires woven into the fabric that generate heat.
    Nicol Natale, PEOPLE, 5 Nov. 2025
Noun
  • Sony’s imaging and sensing solutions segment develops and manufactures advanced semiconductor products for a wide range of applications, from smartphones to automotive and industrial systems.
    Dylan Butts, CNBC, 11 Nov. 2025
  • In previous studies, botanists have cut the saguaros into segments to better understand their inner architecture, testing a cactus’s flexibility by adding weights to the different sections of the column.
    John Leos, AZCentral.com, 10 Nov. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Member.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/member. Accessed 17 Nov. 2025.

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