1
as in specks
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 flecks
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 particles
Rather than being powered by nuclear fusion, as normal stars are, dark stars are thought to have been powered by the annihilation of dark matter particles.
—
Robert Lea, Space.com, 15 Jan. 2026
It is recommended to clean your blinds every week or two so that dust and particles don’t accumulate.
—Daley Quinn, Southern Living, 15 Jan. 2026
Using a Whetstone Whetstones (also known as sharpening stones) are flat blocks of abrasive material made from aluminum oxide, ceramics, steel sheets coated with diamond particles, or natural stone.
—Randi Gollin, Martha Stewart, 15 Jan. 2026
Iced glass nails can take a couple of hours in the salon chair, as moving the magnetic particles into place to make the finish look like liquid takes time and precision.
—Jacqueline Kilikita, Refinery29, 15 Jan. 2026
Complimentary data from uGMRT reveals a very steep radio spectrum indicative of old, weakened plasma particles.
—Andrew Paul, Popular Science, 15 Jan. 2026
They harness sunlight and are propelled only by the momentum of photons—particles of light.
—Chris Young, Interesting Engineering, 15 Jan. 2026
High-fat-content foods, such as cheese, pork and bacon, emit the most particles, especially when cooked at high temperatures.
—Katelyn Richard, The Conversation, 9 Jan. 2026
Most of us inhale some of these tiny particles every day.
—Zoë Schlanger, The Atlantic, 9 Apr. 2025
Robert Lea, Space.com, 15 Jan. 2026
It is recommended to clean your blinds every week or two so that dust and particles don’t accumulate.
—Daley Quinn, Southern Living, 15 Jan. 2026
Using a Whetstone Whetstones (also known as sharpening stones) are flat blocks of abrasive material made from aluminum oxide, ceramics, steel sheets coated with diamond particles, or natural stone.
—Randi Gollin, Martha Stewart, 15 Jan. 2026
Iced glass nails can take a couple of hours in the salon chair, as moving the magnetic particles into place to make the finish look like liquid takes time and precision.
—Jacqueline Kilikita, Refinery29, 15 Jan. 2026
Complimentary data from uGMRT reveals a very steep radio spectrum indicative of old, weakened plasma particles.
—Andrew Paul, Popular Science, 15 Jan. 2026
They harness sunlight and are propelled only by the momentum of photons—particles of light.
—Chris Young, Interesting Engineering, 15 Jan. 2026
High-fat-content foods, such as cheese, pork and bacon, emit the most particles, especially when cooked at high temperatures.
—Katelyn Richard, The Conversation, 9 Jan. 2026
Most of us inhale some of these tiny particles every day.
—Zoë Schlanger, The Atlantic, 9 Apr. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for particles
Noun
-
Their long, silvery-blue spiral arms are peppered with bright knots and specks, the telltale signposts of active, messy astrophysics in progress.—
Kenna Hughes-Castleberry,
Space.com,
8 Jan. 2026
-
Microcalcifications appear as white specks and may indicate cancer in some cases.—
Lindsey Leake,
NBC news,
3 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
López reportedly found flecks of gold while digging wild onions, sparking an early gold rush.—
Don Sweeney,
Sacbee.com,
26 Dec. 2025
-
Shiny and dark evergreen foliage is held aloft on strong, arching stems mottled with purple flecks.—
Kim Toscano,
Southern Living,
21 Dec. 2025
Noun
-
Those bright white tees seem to be absolute stain magnets attracting coffee drips, spaghetti sauce spots, and salad dressing splashes.—
Melissa Locker,
Southern Living,
10 Jan. 2026
-
Atlas is also built to withstand harsh conditions, operating reliably in temperatures from -4°F to 104°F, and is waterproofed to protect it from splashes on factory floors.—
Sujita Sinha,
Interesting Engineering,
9 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
Beyond the gong, other bits of prop comedy give them cover to dive into more controversial topics.—
Julia Black,
Vanity Fair,
8 Jan. 2026
-
The live show — featuring a famed blue-skinned, apparently bald and mostly silent trio — will feature classic Blue Man Group routines plus new bits that will be exclusive to the Orlando production.—
Dewayne Bevil,
The Orlando Sentinel,
8 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
My grandmother’s version typically called just for the addition of generous sprinklings of Lawry’s garlic salt and black pepper—and that’s it.—
Kaitlyn Yarborough,
Southern Living,
5 Dec. 2025
Noun
-
By releasing messenger molecules called neurotransmitters that open and close ion channels, neurons can nudge their neighbors’ membrane potentials up or down.—
Elise Cutts,
Quanta Magazine,
12 Jan. 2026
-
Participants were able to detect odorant molecules using the device, and most could reliably distinguish between different odors.—
New Atlas,
New Atlas,
12 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
The governor-elect’s plans provide hints of how progressives elsewhere will try to tackle affordability problems.—
Judge Glock,
Washington Post,
9 Jan. 2026
-
No arrests have been announced, nor have police offered any hints for a motive for the killing.—
Jakob Rodgers,
Mercury News,
9 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
Duggar went on to credit her simple diet in her health journey, which includes vegetables, fruits, meat and a few grains, after speaking with a friend about their complicated nutrition habits.—
Madison E. Goldberg,
PEOPLE,
8 Jan. 2026
-
Oats, grains, fruits, nuts, seeds, and dairy products are associated with healthy cholesterol.—
Caitlin Beale,
Health,
7 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Particles.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/particles. Accessed 20 Jan. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
