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 After natural disasters, members of other faiths and Latter-day Saints often work side by side on community clean ups and volunteer efforts. Dinah Voyles Pulver, USA Today, 4 Oct. 2025 The first ballot for the 2026 Grammy Awards was sent to Recording Academy voting members on Friday, giving a look at the various strategies that artists, labels and management are taking to get the best shot at Grammy gold for next year’s ceremony. Steven J. Horowitz, Variety, 4 Oct. 2025 Former acting head of the FAA, Chris Rocheleau, had testified in June to members of the House that by this October, the Philadelphia air traffic control facility that handles flights in and out of Newark would reach healthy staffing levels and technology issues would be resolved. Alexandra Skores, CNN Money, 25 Sep. 2025 Akil was previously seen in Memory Box, while other cast members include Julia Kassar, Camille Salameh, Tino Karam, and Nadyn Chalhoub. Melanie Goodfellow, Deadline, 25 Sep. 2025 See All Example Sentences for member
Recent Examples of Synonyms for member
Noun
  • The roadway will have two-way connectivity from 22nd Street to Wenzel Street east of downtown, a key component of the Main Remade plan officials have touted since 2024.
    Leo Bertucci, Louisville Courier Journal, 5 Oct. 2025
  • The main component of the bill — a full online pornography ban — would be the first of its kind in the United States.
    Arpan Lobo, Freep.com, 4 Oct. 2025
Noun
  • If passed, the bill would force hundreds of dispensaries and smoke shops across the state to remove large portions of their inventory.
    Gina Lee Castro, jsonline.com, 3 Oct. 2025
  • That means Swift incorporated a portion of the pop classic's composition into her version, in this case the melody and beginning chorus lyrics.
    Bryan West, USA Today, 3 Oct. 2025
Noun
  • In all of these places, the broad availability of talent—whether as founders, knowledge workers, or highly skilled blue-collar workers—is viewed as one core element of the corporate ecosystem’s success.
    Peter Vanham, Fortune, 2 Oct. 2025
  • So there is this element of the star's narrative, the actor's narrative in the character.
    H. Alan Scott, MSNBC Newsweek, 1 Oct. 2025
Noun
  • The tournament is part of an effort to remove grass carp from the three lakes.
    Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 7 Oct. 2025
  • The offseason chatter has been very positive, and Coward could be a part of Memphis’ rotation from the outset.
    Stan Son, New York Times, 7 Oct. 2025
Noun
  • Road ahead To achieve further upside, the company will need to address several factors, including quality and recall issues as well as costs — areas Farley has tried to combat for years.
    Michael Wayland, CNBC, 1 Oct. 2025
  • As viewers know, the judges base their scores on a number of factors, including technique and performance, and can deduct points if performers break any golden dance rules.
    Jordana Comiter, PEOPLE, 1 Oct. 2025
Noun
  • The job only got heavier on this hot and sunny Sunday, when the home team was booed off the field at halftime by the sections of MetLife that weren’t filled with Cowboys fans.
    Ian O'Connor, New York Times, 6 Oct. 2025
  • Hundreds of thousands of the paper’s readers abandoned it last year when Bezos decided not to endorse in the presidential election and to overhaul the opinion section.
    Max Tani, semafor.com, 6 Oct. 2025
Noun
  • Since these ingredients are typically found in ultraprocessed foods, not eating those is a shortcut to eliminating the additives from your diet.
    Kristen Rogers, CNN Money, 1 Oct. 2025
  • By connecting school caterers to local farmers, the program ensures that the ingredients in school meals are sourced from their community and enrich the local economy.
    Lisa Lockwood, Footwear News, 1 Oct. 2025
Noun
  • The second time was in August, when water and mud from a record-breaking rainstorm surged through a wall and a basement window, demolishing a segment of her home's cinderblock foundation, and allowing nearly 4 feet of water to pool on those same basement floors.
    Tamia Fowlkes, jsonline.com, 6 Oct. 2025
  • There are 24 cameras on every track, each aimed at a specific segment, and dozens of other cameras elsewhere.
    Erik Shilling, Robb Report, 6 Oct. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Member.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/member. Accessed 9 Oct. 2025.

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