as in splits
the act or process of a whole separating into two or more parts or pieces
the cleavages of an egg as an embryo develops
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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 cleavages
The cartoonist and journalist Joe Sacco has made a career of rescuing history from the cleavages of memory.
—
Robert Rubsam, The Atlantic, 18 Dec. 2025
Intelligence agencies in the United States and other Western countries closely follow these cleavages, of course, and can sometimes recruit the disaffected or the ambitious to provide insider information.
—Stephen Kotkin, Foreign Affairs, 16 Dec. 2025
Robert Rubsam, The Atlantic, 18 Dec. 2025
Intelligence agencies in the United States and other Western countries closely follow these cleavages, of course, and can sometimes recruit the disaffected or the ambitious to provide insider information.
—Stephen Kotkin, Foreign Affairs, 16 Dec. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for cleavages
Noun
-
Such agreements often include incredibly detailed terms with wildly differing splits and sometimes convoluted formulas.—
Teri Sforza,
Oc Register,
10 Apr. 2026
-
Working between the pipes for the Kings for the second straight game, goaltender Anton Forsberg made his presence felt midway through the frame, doing the splits to fend off an attempt with his right foot.—
Josh Gross,
Daily News,
10 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
The astronauts have also talked about how Earth looks like one united place, rather than a globe marked by lines demarcating countries or other divisions.—
Jackie Wattles,
CNN Money,
11 Apr. 2026
-
Political divisions course through Latino communities, including in South Florida where Telemundo is headquartered.—
Meg James,
Los Angeles Times,
11 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
There could be more dissolutions and consolidations in the future.—
Joseph States,
Chicago Tribune,
18 Jan. 2026
-
The drama that sometimes follows their dissolutions speaks to a broader uncertainty in the air about how gay couples should be.—
Paul McAdory,
Them.,
9 Dec. 2025
Noun
-
Inside, the seating has personal storage and moveable partitions for more seclusion or more socialization onboard as well as moody lighting.—
Nicole Hoey,
Robb Report,
13 Apr. 2026
-
Using multiple overwrite methods ensures that files, partitions, or entire drives are permanently deleted and not recoverable.—
StackCommerce Team,
PC Magazine,
7 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
In 15 games, Canady finished with 39 tackles, two interceptions and six pass breakups.—
Antwan Staley,
New York Daily News,
14 Apr. 2026
-
There have also been breakups and new flames found among the rest of the returning cast, including Jacob Elordi, Sydney Sweeney, and Maude Apatow.—
Bailey Bujnosek,
InStyle,
12 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
Given the schisms, some in the GOP believe only a single party-line bill may end up passing before November.—
Burgess Everett,
semafor.com,
9 Apr. 2026
-
But over the past decade or so, major schisms have emerged.—
Andy Greene,
Rolling Stone,
31 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
According to Barnard, the center has both threatened family separations and enacted them.—
Sarah Stillman,
New Yorker,
13 Apr. 2026
-
Many movies and shows are now overlapping between both, but there are still some separations.—
K. Thor Jensen,
PC Magazine,
29 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Cleavages.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/cleavages. Accessed 19 Apr. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
