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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

Examples 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
However, the market still feels fragmented, as these products primarily focus on specific medical conditions. Calvin Rasode, Rolling Stone, 25 Oct. 2024 Infrastructure that fragments river systems, such as dams, is one of the leading threats to freshwater species, particularly migratory fish such as the Danube salmon. Jeff Opperman, Forbes, 22 Oct. 2024
Noun
According to the Russian blog, the fragment was photographed in the Russian village of Marino, which is about 35 miles from the Ukrainian border. Lauren Kent, CNN, 20 Nov. 2024 That notion appears to be very, very wrong, according to a study in Current Biology. DNA Shows Diverse Backgrounds Researchers extracted and analyzed DNA from bone fragments of 14 Vesuvius victims’ skeletons. Paul Smaglik, Discover Magazine, 7 Nov. 2024 See all Example Sentences for fragment 
Recent Examples of Synonyms for fragment
Verb
  • Plus, certain top-tier or niche publications could see their brand value rise as AI disrupts the media landscape.
    Eleanor Hawkins, Axios, 5 Dec. 2024
  • Then the pandemic hit, disrupting supply chains and sending prices inching up.
    Sammy Roth, Los Angeles Times, 5 Dec. 2024
Noun
  • Mazzoli created a lush score that was alternately sweeping or intimate, sensuous or mystical, yet with a distinctive sound that was her own weaving a thread through the piece.
    Janelle Gelfand, Cincinnati.com, 19 July 2017
  • This is why the war stories of Tom Clancy are such convincing and moving pieces of fiction.
    Janine Barchas, Washington Post, 18 July 2017
Verb
  • Terance Mann, who fractured the middle finger on his left hand in Tuesday’s game, will have surgery Thursday and will miss at least three weeks.
    Janis Carr, Orange County Register, 5 Dec. 2024
  • The media landscape has fractured since then, with the rise of streaming services scrambling the old ways of doing business.
    Brent Lang, Variety, 5 Dec. 2024
Noun
  • These tools are indeed as good as new and sell for a fraction of the OG price.
    Annie Blackman, Allure, 30 Nov. 2024
  • These tiny but mighty machines are basically portable computers at a fraction of the cost.
    Shea Simmons, People.com, 30 Nov. 2024
Verb
  • So doctors take the adult dose and break it into child-sized doses themselves.
    David Cox, NPR, 5 Dec. 2024
  • Austerity Budget Macron appointed Barnier in September to break the legislative stalemate and tackle France's mounting deficit.
    Jason Fields, Newsweek, 5 Dec. 2024
Noun
  • The only bit of political activity came when Colorado State star player Malaya Jones and teammates Kennedy Stanford and Naeemah Weathers knelt during the national anthem.
    Steve Henson, Los Angeles Times, 2 Dec. 2024
  • The More Accessories, the Merrier Don’t forget about extra bits, which are well represented in the Ssense sale.
    Christina Holevas, Vogue, 2 Dec. 2024
Verb
  • Wanting to prove that the substance was a byproduct of disintegrating chloramines, Wahman looked for it in drinking water systems across the US that used the chemical and compared it with systems in Switzerland that didn’t.
    Jen Christensen, CNN, 21 Nov. 2024
  • The debris – space rocks known as meteoroids – collides with Earth's atmosphere at high speed and disintegrates, creating fiery and colorful streaks in the sky, according to NASA.
    Eric Lagatta, USA TODAY, 4 Nov. 2024
Noun
  • The bin dehydrates and grinds food scraps, producing something that looks more or less like dirt.
    Carina Finn, Bon Appétit, 27 Nov. 2024
  • Inspired to make use of scraps otherwise seen as waste, Bansal and Sharma began collaborating with artisans in the area to create sculptural tables, lamps, and chairs, balancing their artistic vision with artisanal processes derived from generational knowledge.
    Kristen de La Vallière, Architectural Digest, 25 Nov. 2024

Thesaurus Entries Near fragment

Cite this Entry

“Fragment.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/fragment. Accessed 11 Dec. 2024.

More from Merriam-Webster on fragment

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