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 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
Told in a fragmentary narrative filled with digression (and interjections from the author), Khoury’s novel tackles themes of identity and oppression that are incredibly relevant today.
—Nate Zipp, Christian Science Monitor, 1 May 2025
While her book is at times fragmentary and episodic, marked by abrupt discontinuities, the cumulative effect is powerful, eloquently testifying to the horrific consequences of this conflict.
—Rebecca Donner, New York Times, 18 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for fragmentary
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
Told in a fragmentary narrative filled with digression (and interjections from the author), Khoury’s novel tackles themes of identity and oppression that are incredibly relevant today.
—Nate Zipp, Christian Science Monitor, 1 May 2025
While her book is at times fragmentary and episodic, marked by abrupt discontinuities, the cumulative effect is powerful, eloquently testifying to the horrific consequences of this conflict.
—Rebecca Donner, New York Times, 18 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for fragmentary
Recent Examples of Synonyms for fragmentary
incomplete
Adjective
-
Amid mass reticence, An Unfinished Film is an essential yet incomplete outlet for unprocessed trauma.—
Yangyang Cheng,
NPR,
4 Oct. 2025
-
Carroll scored on its first five offensive possessions, and possibly would have been six, but Renda’s second-and-goal pass was incomplete in the end zone as time expired in the first half.—
Mike Waters,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
4 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Fragmentary.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/fragmentary. Accessed 7 Oct. 2025.
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