particle

noun

ˈpär-ti-kəl How to pronounce particle (audio)
Definition of particlenext
1
as in speck
a very small amount there was not a particle of truth in what she said

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in bit
a very small piece a particle of cookie fell on the carpet

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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 particle But if particles from the Sun hit an astronaut on the lunar surface, the astronaut could be at risk for health complications like cancer. — Mary Magnuson, The Conversation, 9 Sep. 2026 An external pre-filter head blocks silt and large particles before water is drawn into a layer filtration structure. — Abhimanyu Ghoshal, New Atlas, 8 Sep. 2026 When light particles, known as photons, from BOAT reached Earth on October, 9, 2022, researchers realized that one of those photons was not like the others. — Adam Kovac, Scientific American, 8 Sep. 2026 Healthcare stocks were having a bad day after Novartis suffered setbacks across several Phase 3 drug trials, including a medication being studied to reduce cardiovascular events by lowering lipoprotein(a), a cholesterol-carrying particle in blood. — Jeff Marks,matthew J. Belvedere, CNBC, 8 Sep. 2026 See All Example Sentences for particle
Recent Examples of Synonyms for particle
  1. speck
  2. bit
  3. sprinkling
  4. fleck
  5. hint
  6. molecule
  7. glimmer
  8. atom
Noun
  • Calcium shows up as bright white specks on the coronary artery images.
    — Hanna Wickes, Kansas City Star, 20 Aug. 2026
  • Pulse a few times, until crumbs range in size from specks to peas.
    — Leah Eskin, Midwest Living, 14 Aug. 2026
Definition of speck
Noun
  • The 3-1 margin of victory could have been wider had City not at times missed that final bit of polish at Joie Stadium.
    — Katie Whyatt, New York Times, 7 Sep. 2026
  • The Prince and Princess of Wales have been largely out of the spotlight recently, spending the remaining bits of the summer with their three children before school begins for each.
    — Rachel Burchfield, InStyle, 6 Sep. 2026
Definition of bit
Noun
  • Danny Boyle adopts a similar strategy with this snazzy screen adaptation, shot through with kinetic energy, convulsive editing and a liberal sprinkling of post-punk, electro-pop and indie rock that thumbs its nose at period accuracy.
    — David Rooney, HollywoodReporter, 2 Sep. 2026
  • Her clothes are simple but bright, with sometimes a bit of shiny thread or a sprinkling of sequins; décolletage is a thing of the future.
    — Robert Lloyd, Los Angeles Times, 26 Aug. 2026
Definition of sprinkling
Noun
  • Some kits include stone-like chips or flecks to scatter over the surface of the wet paint for a realistic effect.
    — Karen Brewer Grossman, Southern Living, 8 Sep. 2026
  • Hundreds of flecks of sequins caught the light as Jenner made her way down the red carpet, glittering from every angle.
    — Chanel Vargas, InStyle, 3 Sep. 2026
Definition of fleck
Noun
  • But the Italianate fountains at the entrance is your first hint that a resort wonderland awaits.
    — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 5 Sep. 2026
  • While there is no water vapor, JWST has picked up hints of solid particles of crystalline water-ice.
    — Keith Cooper, Space.com, 4 Sep. 2026
Definition of hint
Noun
  • Nitrogen is also a core component of chlorophyll, which absorbs energy from light in photosynthetic organisms, and adenosine triphosphate (ATP), the primary energy-carrying molecule found in the cells of plants and animals.
    — Encyclopedia Britannica, Encyclopedia Britannica, 9 Sep. 2026
  • The researchers found that different parts of the FPTI molecule contributed to the protective layer.
    — Neetika Walter, Interesting Engineering, 7 Sep. 2026
Definition of molecule
Noun
  • Although the proffer glitch gave the defense what appeared to be a glimmer of hope, Long’s recording, too, was played for jurors.
    — John L. Smith, Rolling Stone, 2 Sep. 2026
  • Peppered amid the challenges for 2025 were glimmers of hope through successes like Weapons ($270 million globally on a $38 million budget), while modestly budgeted reboots Freakier Friday and Final Destination Bloodlines also turned profits.
    — Ryan Gajewski, HollywoodReporter, 2 Sep. 2026
Definition of glimmer
Noun
  • As a result, the collective decay chain is blocked after the first decay, leaving the maximum emission rate proportional to N—the same scaling expected from independent atoms.
    — Rupendra Brahambhatt, Interesting Engineering, 6 Sep. 2026
  • The project envisioned an era when the world's goods would crisscross the world powered by the emission-free atom.
    — New Atlas, New Atlas, 4 Sep. 2026
Definition of atom

Browse Nearby Words

participators
particle
particles
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Particle.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/particle. Accessed 15 Sep. 2026.

Copy Citation
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

Listen to the pronunciation of quorum

See Definitions and Examples »

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

A Who’s Who Regarding ‘Who’s’ and ‘Whose’

Why do we use apostrophes to show possession?

'A' or 'an'? What about before 'h'? An Indefinite Article Guide

Why is '-ed' sometimes pronounced at the end of a word?
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

Back to School Vocabulary

Words from the 'Odyssey'

Ye Olde Nincompoop: Old-Fashioned Words for 'Stupid'

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of
See More

Popular

See More

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

Back to School Vocabulary
See More

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
The Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
funny guinea pig in glasses reading a book
Challenging Words You Should Know Vol 2 Words to the wise
See All