Synonym Chooser

How is the word member distinct from other similar nouns?

Some common synonyms of member are division, fragment, part, piece, portion, section, and segment. While all these words mean "something less than the whole," member suggests one of the functional units composing a body.

a structural member

In what contexts can division take the place of member?

While in some cases nearly identical to member, division applies to a large or diversified part.

the manufacturing division of the company

When is fragment a more appropriate choice than member?

Although the words fragment and member have much in common, fragment applies to a part produced by or as if by breaking off.

only a fragment of the play still exists

When is it sensible to use part instead of member?

The words part and member 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 would piece be a good substitute for member?

While the synonyms piece and member are close in meaning, piece applies to a separate or detached part of a whole.

a puzzle with 500 pieces

Where would portion be a reasonable alternative to member?

In some situations, the words portion and member are roughly equivalent. However, portion implies an assigned or allotted part.

cut the pie into six portions

When can section be used instead of member?

The words section and member can be used in similar contexts, but section applies to a relatively small or uniform part.

the entertainment section of the newspaper

When might segment be a better fit than member?

The meanings of segment and member largely overlap; however, 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 member Olivieri is a volunteer and member of the Fairview School District 72 Parent Teacher Association, and Iverson owns the building of 7925-7927 N. Lincoln Ave., where Will’s Place and Aw Yeah Comics are located. Richard Requena, Chicago Tribune, 22 Apr. 2025 In that year, Troiano has calculated, eight percent of voters cast ballots in the primary contests that determined 83 percent of House members. Foreign Affairs, 22 Apr. 2025 The administrative responsibilities during the vote will pass to the next most senior member of the College of Cardinals. Chad De Guzman, Time, 22 Apr. 2025 Illinois’ 17-member House delegation is made up of 14 Democrats and three Republicans. Jeremy Gorner, Chicago Tribune, 14 Apr. 2025 See All Example Sentences for member
Recent Examples of Synonyms for member
Noun
  • There’s just so many components of the business that have to be looked at.
    Glenn Taylor, Sourcing Journal, 1 May 2025
  • According to the notice, the affected vehicles may have defective connecting rods or crankshaft components in the engine.
    Tahar Rajab, MSNBC Newsweek, 1 May 2025
Noun
  • Vogue may earn a portion of sales from products that are purchased through our site as part of our Affiliate Partnerships with retailers.
    Anna Cafolla, Vogue, 26 Apr. 2025
  • Washington returned its portion of its $33 million settlement to its Medicaid Fraud Penalty Account.
    Lawrence Mower, Miami Herald, 25 Apr. 2025
Noun
  • Francis funeral less lavish but keeps some traditions Francis wanted a less opulent burial than is traditional for popes and made changes to the church's book on funeral rites, but some of the usual elements remain in place.
    Eric Lagatta, USA Today, 25 Apr. 2025
  • An interesting element here is the difference between daily active users on both platforms.
    James Peckham, PC Magazine, 24 Apr. 2025
Noun
  • In March, Howell issued a temporary restraining order blocking the Trump administration from implementing key parts of the executive order.
    Alexander Mallin, ABC News, 3 May 2025
  • The Environmental Protection Agency announced plans on May 2 to slash its budget by $300 million in fiscal year 2026, reduce staffing to 1980s levels and dissolve its research and development office as part of a sweeping overhaul of the agency.
    Valerie Volcovici, USA Today, 3 May 2025
Noun
  • Partisanship is a related factor in this poll, produced for ABC News by Langer Research Associates with fieldwork by Ipsos.
    Jaclyn S. Wong, ABC News, 28 Apr. 2025
  • Others said the length of time a slip is used should not be a factor.
    Phil Diehl, San Diego Union-Tribune, 28 Apr. 2025
Noun
  • In February, Martin removed the chief and deputy chief of the Federal Major Crimes section, which oversees cases involving drugs, firearms possession, child exploitation, human trafficking and immigration violations.
    Andy Kroll, ProPublica, 28 Apr. 2025
  • In addition, this section of the bill specifies that at least five members of the board must be IU alumni.
    Michael T. Nietzel, Forbes.com, 28 Apr. 2025
Noun
  • No disrespect to the freezer aisle, but our favorite veggie burger ideas start with fresh ingredients—not prefab pucks.
    Emily Saladino, Bon Appetit Magazine, 3 May 2025
  • Users will get a starter pack of five unique ingredient cards to begin the Ingredient Quest experience.
    Gabe Hauari, USA Today, 2 May 2025
Noun
  • But because of the way Tony Gilroy has structured each season as a quartet of three-hour arcs, the release schedule makes sense, giving viewers a chance to gobble up each segment of the larger story in one go, rather than spreading the whole thing out over many months(*).
    Alan Sepinwall, Rolling Stone, 23 Apr. 2025
  • The higher-margin broadband segment partially subsidizes mobile, which on its own would not be as attractive of a business, according to KeyBanc Capital Markets analyst Brandon Nispel.
    Russell Leung,Lillian Rizzo, CNBC, 23 Apr. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Member.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/member. Accessed 6 May. 2025.

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