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fragment

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noun

Synonym Chooser

How is the word fragment distinct from other similar nouns?

Some common synonyms of fragment are division, member, part, piece, portion, section, and segment. While all these words mean "something less than the whole," fragment applies to a part produced by or as if by breaking off.

only a fragment of the play still exists

When would division be a good substitute for fragment?

The meanings of division and fragment largely overlap; however, division applies to a large or diversified part.

the manufacturing division of the company

When is it sensible to use member instead of fragment?

While the synonyms member and fragment are close in meaning, member suggests one of the functional units composing a body.

a structural member

Where would part be a reasonable alternative to fragment?

The words part and fragment 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 can piece be used instead of fragment?

In some situations, the words piece and fragment are roughly equivalent. However, piece applies to a separate or detached part of a whole.

a puzzle with 500 pieces

When could portion be used to replace fragment?

Although the words portion and fragment have much in common, portion implies an assigned or allotted part.

cut the pie into six portions

When is section a more appropriate choice than fragment?

The synonyms section and fragment are sometimes interchangeable, but section applies to a relatively small or uniform part.

the entertainment section of the newspaper

When might segment be a better fit than fragment?

While in some cases nearly identical to fragment, 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 fragment
Verb
Indeed, noise interruptions, bright lights and uncomfortable temperatures can all fragment sleep. Daryl Austin, USA Today, 23 Aug. 2025 Agricultural activities in Africa are increasingly fragmenting wildland areas that are prone to burning. Seyd Teymoor Seydi, The Conversation, 21 Aug. 2025
Noun
Fiberglass fragments of a blade from the Vineyard Wind project broke apart and began washing ashore last summer during the peak of tourist season. Sydney Lake, Fortune, 5 Sep. 2025 But there are also flashes of visual splendor, like tiny shards of some kind of exotic broken vase — fragments of what could have been. Jordan Mintzer, HollywoodReporter, 5 Sep. 2025 See All Example Sentences for fragment
Recent Examples of Synonyms for fragment
Verb
  • Months after Milwaukee officials began talking about the issue, street takeovers continue to disrupt the city.
    David Clarey, jsonline.com, 2 Sep. 2025
  • That’s because the same technology that may be disrupting traditional jobs could accelerate entirely new industries from space tourism to planet colonization.
    Preston Fore, Fortune, 1 Sep. 2025
Noun
  • Until Judkins plays, Sampson is a timeshare piece with a nice burst and receiving upside.
    Jake Ciely, New York Times, 2 Sep. 2025
  • Its pieces look sleek and composed in the chaos of downtown streets, yet sophisticated enough for a gallery opening uptown.
    Cortne Bonilla, Vogue, 2 Sep. 2025
Verb
  • The United dressing room was said to be toxic and fractured when Mourinho departed, with Solskjaer would be the man to repair it.
    Carl Anka, New York Times, 5 Sep. 2025
  • By the eve of the Civil War, pro-slavery Southerners had even fractured the Democratic Party, which had long done their bidding.
    Time, Time, 5 Sep. 2025
Noun
  • The tradeable PGIs would give market participants legally enforceable ownership of vaulted gold and allow traders to buy fractions of 400-ounce bars for the first time, according to Mike Oswin, global head of market structure and innovation at the WGC.
    Chloe Taylor, CNBC, 7 Sep. 2025
  • After retraining, the AI model consistently rejected harmful queries, even when operating with only a fraction of its original structure.
    Bojan Stojkovski, Interesting Engineering, 7 Sep. 2025
Verb
  • The final construction plan was approved by the state, county, and the city of South Miami in July 2025 and the church broke ground on August 4.
    Lauren Costantino, Miami Herald, 2 Sep. 2025
  • Sign up for Entertainment Weekly's free daily newsletter to get breaking TV news, exclusive first looks, recaps, reviews, interviews with your favorite stars, and more.
    Raechal Shewfelt, EW.com, 2 Sep. 2025
Noun
  • Subtle bits of faux wheat give it additional texture, and there’s an attached loop in the back for easy hanging.
    Shea Simmons, Southern Living, 5 Sep. 2025
  • There’s trouble in paradise in this surprisingly profound soccer comedy, which takes an episode from 2002 that passed most of the world by but left the Republic of Ireland in bits, so much so that it was even compared (elsewhere, obviously) to the death of Princess Diana.
    Damon Wise, Deadline, 5 Sep. 2025
Verb
  • Before flight 10, Starship's most recent demonstration came on May 27, when the spacecraft spun out of control roughly halfway through its flight and disintegrated in a fireball.
    Eric Lagatta, USA Today, 28 Aug. 2025
  • The situation quickly disintegrated as Joseph Gerber, 45, who had an outstanding felony warrant, fired first and wounded Mancera.
    Jim Woods, Chicago Tribune, 28 Aug. 2025
Noun
  • Using faux chenille, a fabric manipulation technique that creates layered textures, Threadapeutic produces richly tactile works that can take three months to complete, such as Gather and Shore wall hangings made from lace, brocade and tulle scraps.
    Y-Jean Mun-Delsalle, Forbes.com, 7 Sep. 2025
  • Groot and the city worked together on a food and yard waste collection program last fall, which included two locations at which residents could drop off their scraps for free.
    Carolyn Stein, Chicago Tribune, 6 Sep. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Fragment.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/fragment. Accessed 8 Sep. 2025.

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