as in incomplete
lacking some necessary part
the historical record of this pharaoh's life and reign is fragmentary at best
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Recent Examples of fragmentary
The poet Karla Kelsey stretches the concept of a literary biography into her fragmentary swirl of a novel, Transcendental Factory.
—
Andie Blaine, Air Mail, 6 Sep. 2025
Using a fragmentary, collage-like approach that unites characters from different eras, from the turn of the 20th century to the post–World World II era to the years of GDR rule and on to the present, Schilinski treats history like a constant haunting.
—Jill Goldsmith, Deadline, 5 Aug. 2025
The fishless tanks, which emit white noise and are bathed in the violet lighting of 1980s Hong Kong, encourage visitors to reflect on the fragmentary nature of time and memory.
—Brendan Ruberry, semafor.com, 24 June 2025
Kosinski, who filmed actual F1 contests, scores on atmosphere but stages the races in a way that’s fragmentary and at times confusing, without giving us a clear enough picture of how each driver is trying to maneuver.
—Owen Gleiberman, Variety, 17 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for fragmentary
Andie Blaine, Air Mail, 6 Sep. 2025
Using a fragmentary, collage-like approach that unites characters from different eras, from the turn of the 20th century to the post–World World II era to the years of GDR rule and on to the present, Schilinski treats history like a constant haunting.
—Jill Goldsmith, Deadline, 5 Aug. 2025
The fishless tanks, which emit white noise and are bathed in the violet lighting of 1980s Hong Kong, encourage visitors to reflect on the fragmentary nature of time and memory.
—Brendan Ruberry, semafor.com, 24 June 2025
Kosinski, who filmed actual F1 contests, scores on atmosphere but stages the races in a way that’s fragmentary and at times confusing, without giving us a clear enough picture of how each driver is trying to maneuver.
—Owen Gleiberman, Variety, 17 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for fragmentary
Recent Examples of Synonyms for fragmentary
incomplete
Adjective
-
But Jalon Daniels’ Hail Mary pass from KU’s 47 on the final play of the game fell incomplete.—
Gary Bedore,
Kansas City Star,
9 Nov. 2025
-
The officials were fooled, ruling it incomplete.—
The Athletic College Football Staff,
New York Times,
9 Nov. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Fragmentary.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/fragmentary. Accessed 16 Nov. 2025.
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