piece 1 of 2

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

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
February delivered something for everyone on PVOD, including a couple Best Picture nominees, a wonderful piece of camp, Jason Statham, and zombies! Brian Tallerico, Vulture, 28 Feb. 2026 Under California’s new congressional map, Kiley’s current district was split into six pieces. Mathew Miranda, Sacbee.com, 28 Feb. 2026
Verb
Vidal made three-dimensional models of the bones right then and there so the team could start to piece the dinosaur together in real time. K. R. Callaway, Scientific American, 19 Feb. 2026 The nation is puzzle pieced around with warmer weather nationwide, but indecisive on which towns and states will see more humid temperatures. Josh Kelly, Oklahoman, 31 Jan. 2026 See All Example Sentences for piece
Recent Examples of Synonyms for piece
Noun
  • The recall comes after the USDA's Food Safety and Inspection Service received a customer complaint about metal fragments found in the product.
    Laura Daniella Sepulveda, AZCentral.com, 27 Feb. 2026
  • With tears and fragments of personal narratives, this footage often digs deeper than some might expect for a sport derided as the domain of adrenaline junkies indifferent to the law.
    Maya Silver, Outside, 25 Feb. 2026
Noun
  • To get by in Miami-Dade, a family with the composition of Olivo and Torres’ — two adults, three teenagers — needs roughly $100,000 a year, or $8,277 a month, just to make ends meet, according to the Women’s Fund Miami’s Self Sufficiency Standard.
    Max Klaver, Miami Herald, 27 Feb. 2026
  • Artwork should be neutral in subject matter, such as landscapes, abstract compositions, and architecture.
    Sheila Kim, The Spruce, 27 Feb. 2026
Noun
  • Under that framework, the government must show that a gun law is consistent with the nation's historical tradition of firearm regulation.
    Melissa Quinn, CBS News, 1 Mar. 2026
  • Those fees collected would be directed towards a state treasury fund and would be used to support survivors of firearm injuries and boost gun violence prevention efforts.
    Otis Moss III, Chicago Tribune, 1 Mar. 2026
Noun
  • Hairstylist Gregory Russell, who frequently works with the star, pulled her hair back tightly and cinched the lengths right at the crown of her head, wrapping a thick portion of hair around the base to disguise the elastic.
    Kara Nesvig, Allure, 3 Mar. 2026
  • This volatile asset class comprises a substantial portion of the company’s financial assets, introducing significant speculative risk.
    Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 3 Mar. 2026
Verb
  • This particular semiconductor crisis stems from a boom in artificial intelligence, and the subsequent rush to build data centers that rely heavily on memory chips.
    Wayne Chang, CNN Money, 27 Feb. 2026
  • That is, of course, assuming Mahan can build enough statewide name identification in four months that voters outside the greater Bay Area will even consider him.
    David Mark, The Washington Examiner, 27 Feb. 2026
Noun
  • That strategic depth was dismantled bit by bit by Israel after the October 7 attacks.
    Abbas Al Lawati, CNN Money, 1 Mar. 2026
  • Until such a ruling, the debate over the nomenclature of poultry bits will beat on, wings against the current.
    EMILY HEIL THE WASHINGTON POST, Arkansas Online, 1 Mar. 2026
Noun
  • But that doesn’t mean those who fall short of the mark are doomed to a lifetime of work.
    Brian Baker CFA, Boston Herald, 26 Feb. 2026
  • Fleming’s work is a hyperspecific, manic, digressive observational comedy buried inside a cloud of performance-art strangeness.
    Kathryn VanArendonk, Vulture, 26 Feb. 2026
Noun
  • On Tuesday, he was forced into a May runoff against Brandon Herrera, a gun manufacturer and YouTube gun-rights influencer who narrowly lost to Gonzales in the 2024 primary.
    Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 5 Mar. 2026
  • Jim Morrison’s sultry lips share real estate with the dance metal band Rammstein and Knucklehead, the terrifying, gun-wielding skull mascot for the heavy metal band Five Finger Death Punch.
    Jenn Harris, Los Angeles Times, 5 Mar. 2026

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

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

More from Merriam-Webster on piece

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