schism

noun

ˈsi-zəm How to pronounce schism (audio)
Definition of schismnext
1
as in discord
a lack of agreement or harmony schism within the charitable organization was preventing it from achieving its goals

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in split
the act or process of a whole separating into two or more parts or pieces the schism of the Christian church into the Roman Catholic and Eastern Orthodox churches

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 schism The Vatican said dialogue was offered to the ​group ahead of the schism and that the step of ordaining ​bishops without ⁠church approval was considered so grave that excommunication was automatic. — Reuters, NBC news, 5 July 2026 Hussein’s killing cemented the schism between Sunni and Shiite Islam and remains a powerful symbol of resistance against oppression and injustice. — Fadi Tawil, Los Angeles Times, 26 June 2026 This actually comes in the wake of a public schism between showrunner Ryan Condal and universe overlord George RR Martin, who has bemoaned significant changes to his original story. — Paul Tassi, Forbes.com, 29 June 2026 The Vatican said on July 2 that priests and lay Catholics who are part of a breakaway right-wing Catholic group that ordained bishops without Pope Leo's approval were in schism with the wider Church and now excommunicated. — Joshua McElwee, USA Today, 2 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for schism
Recent Examples of Synonyms for schism
  1. discord
  2. split
  3. strife
  4. dissolution
  5. friction
  6. breakup
  7. conflict
  8. division
Noun
  • But the discord between the two leaders stretches far beyond disagreements over the conflict in the Middle East.
    — Tiago Ventura, Time, 24 June 2026
  • Despite the discord, the regime is likely to have the final say.
    — Tim Lister, CNN Money, 14 June 2026
Definition of discord
Noun
  • The Supreme Court has declined to resolve whether innocent taxpayers can face unlimited IRS audit exposure when a return preparer commits fraud, leaving a split in the federal courts intact.
    — Virginia La Torre Jeker, Forbes.com, 30 June 2026
  • Sara Foster still lives with her ex, Tommy Haas, two years after their split.
    — Emlyn Travis, Entertainment Weekly, 30 June 2026
Definition of split
Noun
  • When her parents — the wonderful June Diane Raphael and Tom Everett Scott — fall into professional reputational strife, the family is forced to relocate to Seattle to rebuild their lives.
    — Scarlett Harris, IndieWire, 6 July 2026
  • But labor strife here is spilling off of the docks and into City Hall, with political implications for Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson, himself a former labor organizer who is expected to run for reelection in less than a year.
    — Talia Soglin, Chicago Tribune, 5 July 2026
Definition of strife
Noun
  • The agency continues to struggle with chronic staffing shortages, declining employee morale, and the recent dissolution of its union relationship.
    — Walter Pavlo, Forbes.com, 1 July 2026
  • Following the abrupt dissolution of Disney’s $1 billion investment in OpenAI’s Sora text-to-video app, Shin stressed that there are no plans to use A24’s existing IP to create GenAI tools.
    — Glenn Garner, Deadline, 26 June 2026
Definition of dissolution
Noun
  • Other insiders dispute this characterization, saying Gunn, Safran and Gillespie had the normal amount of healthy friction any filmmaker and studio have as part of the process of making a movie better.
    — Borys Kit, HollywoodReporter, 3 July 2026
  • The energy is stored as rotational momentum in an environment of near-zero friction.
    — Ameya Paleja, Interesting Engineering, 3 July 2026
Definition of friction
Noun
  • The 45-second clip features Oasis’ rowdy crowds and hints at rehearsal footage as Noel and Liam Gallagher talk about their reunion years after Oasis’ acrimonious breakup.
    — Daniel Kreps, Rolling Stone, 4 July 2026
  • The track is about cautiously opening yourself up to a new relationship after a painful breakup, finding comfort in someone who appreciates the very qualities a former partner criticized.
    — Jane LaCroix, PEOPLE, 3 July 2026
Definition of breakup
Noun
  • China has helped cushion the global oil shock, seen its clean energy tech exports surge and framed the war in Iran as another example in which Chinese leadership could supersede the US in ending global conflicts.
    — Nadeen Ebrahim, CNN Money, 1 July 2026
  • The characters are all in a continual state of collision, their shifting conflicts inflamed by Coriolanus’ arrogantly uncompromising nature.
    — Theater Critic, Los Angeles Times, 1 July 2026
Definition of conflict
Noun
  • Miki Sudo defended her title as well in the women’s division.
    — Kyla Guilfoil, NBC news, 5 July 2026
  • The Dodgers claimed a series win in the four-game home set against their division rival, with the chance to sweep Sunday.
    — Maddie Lee, Los Angeles Times, 5 July 2026
Definition of division

Browse Nearby Words

scheming (out)
schism
schismatic
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Cite this Entry

“Schism.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/schism. Accessed 8 Jul. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on schism

Nglish: Translation of schism for Spanish Speakers

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about schism

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