Definition of piecenext
1
2
as in composition
a literary, musical, or artistic production presented a new interpretation of the piece by Mozart

Synonyms & Similar Words

3
4
as in portion
something belonging to, due to, or contributed by an individual member of a group believes his piece of the profits should be higher

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

piece

2 of 2

verb

Synonym Chooser

How is the word piece distinct from other similar nouns?

Some common synonyms of piece are division, fragment, member, part, portion, section, and segment. While all these words mean "something less than the whole," piece applies to a separate or detached part of a whole.

a puzzle with 500 pieces

When is division a more appropriate choice than piece?

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

the manufacturing division of the company

When can fragment be used instead of piece?

While the synonyms fragment and piece are close in meaning, fragment applies to a part produced by or as if by breaking off.

only a fragment of the play still exists

Where would member be a reasonable alternative to piece?

In some situations, the words member and piece are roughly equivalent. However, member suggests one of the functional units composing a body.

a structural member

When might part be a better fit than piece?

The words part and piece can be used in similar contexts, but part is a general term appropriate when indefiniteness is required.

they ran only part of the way

When would portion be a good substitute for piece?

Although the words portion and piece have much in common, portion implies an assigned or allotted part.

cut the pie into six portions

When could section be used to replace piece?

The meanings of section and piece largely overlap; however, section applies to a relatively small or uniform part.

the entertainment section of the newspaper

In what contexts can segment take the place of piece?

The words segment and piece are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, 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 piece
Noun
The company cited Japan-exclusive pieces including a cropped flannel shirt priced at $50, a plaid jacket at $65 and Spingle Move high-top sneakers at $275. — Alexandra Harrell, Footwear News, 29 Oct. 2026 The Low Serving Bowl, specifically, is an incredibly versatile piece that holds its own both on and off the dinner table. — Alaina Chou, Bon Appetit Magazine, 29 Oct. 2026
Verb
Advertisement Adams, watching from Anna’s side of the revelation, says Anna is piecing it together at nearly the same moment Max is. — Jp Mangalindan, Time, 31 July 2026 Among the most harrowing was an overhead photograph of Rivas’ body pieced back together on a metal table, her face skeletonized. — Nancy Dillon, Rolling Stone, 24 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for piece
Recent Examples of Synonyms for piece
Noun
  • Months later, the same group identified a similar protein fragment in the brain of a person with Down syndrome, a condition linked to an unusually high risk of Alzheimer’s-like pathology and dementia.
    — Manvir Singh, New Yorker, 2 Nov. 2026
  • Over time, these cracks can expand and connect, eventually causing metal fragments to break away inside the engine.
    — Mrigakshi Dixit, Interesting Engineering, 2 Nov. 2026
Noun
  • Vertical lines, from the tines of the pitchfork to the church steeple in the background, organize and order the composition.
    — Kelly Presutti, ARTnews.com, 23 Oct. 2026
  • Eastman recommends incorporating at least 15 percent Naia Renew into the composition to realize the fiber’s benefits.
    — Angela Velasquez, Footwear News, 21 Oct. 2026
Noun
  • And unfortunately, there was another part of our party that didn't choose to be responsible with their firearm and fired too closely in my direction.
    — Stephanie Nolasco, FOXNews.com, 24 Oct. 2026
  • According to the affidavit, William alleged that Don hit him on the right side of his head with the firearm.
    — Andrea Flores, Los Angeles Times, 23 Oct. 2026
Noun
  • Shifts among Latino voters, who represent sizable portions of the electorate in both states, and Trump’s sagging approval rating appear to be driving Democrats’ strength in redder areas.
    — Nicholas Wu, semafor.com, 23 Oct. 2026
  • Under these pressures, a portion of cost increases has already transmitted to consumers through fare adjustments.
    — , CNBC, 23 Oct. 2026
Verb
  • Her wish list included healthy trees, an extra bedroom for visitors and a house that was either newly built or recently renovated.
    — Heather Senison, New York Times, 5 Nov. 2026
  • Pat and Jerry Brown as inspirations, citing the younger Brown’s fiscal expertise and the elder’s work to build infrastructure and grow the University of California.
    — Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 5 Nov. 2026
Noun
  • That cute little feral furball was mean as hell and bit, scratched, and ultimately abandoned the family.
    — Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 2 Nov. 2026
  • Toss with a fork or your hands to distribute, then knead in bowl a couple of times to bring dough together (some dry bits may remain).
    — Shilpa Uskokovic, Bon Appetit Magazine, 1 Nov. 2026
Noun
  • The announcement did not specify when testing would begin or disclose results from previous development work.
    — Aamir Khollam, Interesting Engineering, 24 Oct. 2026
  • Every order completed by a robot represents work that potentially could have gone to a human courier.
    — Kurt Knutsson, FOXNews.com, 24 Oct. 2026
Noun
  • The two sides fired white, smoky volleys, their guns making a black-powder hiss-bang.
    — Ian Frazier, New Yorker, 2 Nov. 2026
  • Javits, who dreamed of becoming a doctor, was remembered fondly Monday when his fellow students staged a walkout and spoke out about bullying and gun violence.
    — Rocco Parascandola, New York Daily News, 2 Nov. 2026

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Piece.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/piece. Accessed 6 Nov. 2026.

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