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
Jackson was nervous the entire time, worried Lopez might spot the ring box or piece the plan together. Ron Estes, MSNBC Newsweek, 28 Mar. 2025 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 See All Example Sentences for piece
Recent Examples of Synonyms for piece
Noun
  • The fragments of the sixth century Byzantine bucket have fascinated researchers since a tractor harrow accidentally unearthed the pieces in 1986.
    Ashley Strickland, CNN Money, 24 May 2025
  • Back in 2022, the coroner stated that investigators believe the 10,000 human bones and fragments found at Baumeister’s property in the 1990s could belong to 25 victims.
    Bailey Richards, People.com, 24 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
  • Initial investigations revealed that Urquhart and Evans had agreed to meet the victim at an apartment complex in the 3800 block of Booth Calloway Road to buy the firearm, police said.
    Lillie Davidson, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 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
  • However, some portion of the funds had already been dispensed and spent prior to termination.
    Rebecca Noel, Charlotte Observer, 19 May 2025
Verb
  • 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
  • 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
Noun
  • Don't load it up with more than 8 pounds of gear though, and avoid anything with pointy bits, as there's no padding here.
    Scott Gilbertson, Wired News, 25 May 2025
  • Located in Key West, Duval Street serves up a little bit of everything: live music, art galleries, open-air cafes, and a nonstop, come-as-you-are vibe.
    Symiah Dorsey, Southern Living, 24 May 2025
Noun
  • Laundry sanitizers are also recommended for washing work clothes that have been contaminated with pathogens of human, animal, or agricultural origin.
    Jolie Kerr, Better Homes & Gardens, 20 May 2025
  • High calcium levels can affect how fast your heart beats and how well other heart medications work.
    Health, Health, 20 May 2025
Noun
  • The artist is facing 14 charges, including aggravated assault, possessing and aiming a gun at someone, reckless conduct, conspiracy to commit a felony, and simple assault, among others.
    Kory Grow, Rolling Stone, 21 May 2025
  • Notably, Bradley James, a bodyguard, has claimed that Kelsey Harris — Megan Thee Stallion’s former friend and assistant — admitted to possessing and firing the gun multiple times.
    Preezy Brown, VIBE.com, 20 May 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Piece.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/piece. Accessed 30 May. 2025.

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