piece 1 of 2

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 public offers a piece of its mind Mic's Celeste Katz discloses that Trump's controversial voter fraud panel won't let the public speak at its first meeting on July 19 but did solicit emails. The Hive, 14 July 2017 Alan Jacobs, a professor at Baylor University, has written eloquently about that last piece. Conor Friedersdorf, The Atlantic, 14 July 2017
Verb
Decades later, those archives are a window into a moment of epistemological uncertainty at the dawn of the environmental age, when nothing quite seemed to make sense anymore and concerned researchers were starting to piece it all together, one strange event at a time. Ben Naddaff-Hafrey, Smithsonian Magazine, 26 Mar. 2025 In the chaos, the team digitally piece the hull back together. Sean Kingsley, HollywoodReporter, 11 Apr. 2025 See All Example Sentences for piece
Recent Examples of Synonyms for piece
Noun
  • The other was almost entirely absent of decoration, but was found with fragments of fabric, which could have come from a material case or the clothes the deceased owner was wearing when buried.
    Chloe Mayer, MSNBC Newsweek, 12 May 2025
  • Psaki’s show will, at least, be one fragment among all the others, and perhaps a relatively noticeable one.
    Jon Allsop, New Yorker, 9 May 2025
Noun
  • Hockney participated in the composition of each sequence and the layout of each space.
    Melinda Sheckells, HollywoodReporter, 16 May 2025
  • The Actual Portfolio: This refers to the current composition of the investment holdings.
    Paul Westall, Forbes.com, 15 May 2025
Noun
  • Clyde cited taxes on firearm purchases as part of his reasoning.
    Annabella Rosciglione, The Washington Examiner, 16 May 2025
  • Police also found firearms at the scene, Vega said, adding that witnesses will be brought to the police station to be interviewed.
    David Goodhue, Miami Herald, 16 May 2025
Noun
  • Whey protein is the liquid portion of milk that separates from the curd during cheesemaking.
    Lindsey DeSoto, Health, 20 May 2025
  • Panh explained how dry herb vaporizers extend the shelf life of flower, because smoking destroys a portion of it immediately.
    Benjamin Adams, Forbes.com, 19 May 2025
Verb
  • But it’s also used as a preservative in a wide variety of products, from building materials to paints and plastics.
    Kaitlin Sullivan, Health, 17 May 2025
  • So, nix that step by building a home gym that makes squeezing in a HIIT class first thing in the morning, a treadmill run at lunch or a yoga session on the fly much more doable.
    Sarah Sekula, USA Today, 17 May 2025
Noun
  • Inflation eased to a four-year low Your wallet may feel a tiny bit of ease.
    Rebecca Morin, USA Today, 14 May 2025
  • According to both actors, the entire process of putting together this scene was as inventive and open as the bit with the scarf.
    Maureen Lee Lenker, EW.com, 13 May 2025
Noun
  • High calcium levels can affect how fast your heart beats and how well other heart medications work.
    Health, Health, 20 May 2025
  • Her work has appeared in Quanta, Scientific American, and MIT Technology Review.
    Joanna Thompson, The Atlantic, 20 May 2025
Noun
  • Hiaasen’s humor remains sharp and outlandish, but some of the darker currents of contemporary American life—the guns, the anger, the conspiracy theories—have become painfully personal.
    Amy Weiss-Meyer, The Atlantic, 8 May 2025
  • Surveillance cameras showed Floren threatening that caller inside the bar before going outside and hiding his gun between a trash can and a pillar, according to Merriweather’s letter.
    Ryan Oehrli, Charlotte Observer, 8 May 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Piece.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/piece. Accessed 24 May. 2025.

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