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 Lowe used to be a member of a much larger and more popular right-wing populist party, Nigel Farage’s Reform, but he was forced out in an enjoyably catty and melodramatic schism after calling for mass deportations. — Helen Lewis, The Atlantic, 26 July 2026 The Vatican declared the group of hundreds of thousands of people worldwide in schism after the SSPX consecrated four bishops in Switzerland without Pope Leo XIV’s approval this month. — Nora O'Neill, Charlotte Observer, 15 July 2026 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 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
  • Then came the Iranian Revolution of 1979, and with it, a new era of chaos and discord.
    — Arash Azizi, The Atlantic, 13 Aug. 2026
  • As the United States marks its 250th anniversary at a time of national discord, Americans are reflecting on the legacy of their country’s history.
    — Foreign Affairs, Foreign Affairs, 12 Aug. 2026
Definition of discord
Noun
  • That's where an 80-foot-tree split after the round of storms just a couple of weeks ago.
    — Asal Rezaei, CBS News, 11 Aug. 2026
  • The split comes amid frustrations over a lack of spending on player signings.
    — Emily Olsen, New York Times, 11 Aug. 2026
Definition of split
Noun
  • Life had changed drastically for all of them, naturally — there were now dealing with mortgages, children, marital strife, health issues, and your run-of-the-mill middle-age malaise.
    — David Fear, Rolling Stone, 15 Aug. 2026
  • The rare interview comes a few months after reports of marital strife between Edo and Beatrice, 37, who tied the knot in 2020.
    — Meredith Kile, PEOPLE, 7 Aug. 2026
Definition of strife
Noun
  • The dissolution of the ghettos in the eighteenth century could be interpreted as tearing down barriers, but now poverty set in and the wealthy separated from those who formerly shared a similar destiny.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 12 Aug. 2026
  • The potential dissolution of the Hapag-ZIM deal follows the collapse of one of the largest and fastest-growing container lines in the world.
    — Glenn Taylor, Footwear News, 11 Aug. 2026
Definition of dissolution
Noun
  • Compared to front load washers, top load washers have what’s called an agitator in the center of the vertical drum that’s used to create friction amongst the clothes when washing.
    — Ashlyn Needham, Southern Living, 14 Aug. 2026
  • This removes much of the friction that’s often involved with editing 360 files – assuming the algorithmic choices match your creative intent.
    — New Atlas, New Atlas, 13 Aug. 2026
Definition of friction
Noun
  • Beanie Bishop, one of the team’s newest corners, had two interceptions and a pass breakup.
    — Kevin Fishbain, New York Times, 16 Aug. 2026
  • In the second half, interior defensive lineman Leki Fotu, who started the game on defense, nearly intercepted a Carson Wentz pass with some good anticipation and a pass breakup underneath.
    — Pat Leonard, New York Daily News, 15 Aug. 2026
Definition of breakup
Noun
  • The annual Corky Kell + Dave Hunter Classic will kick off sooner than usual to accommodate booking conflicts with Mercedes-Benz Stadium.
    — Jack Leo, AJC.com, 12 Aug. 2026
  • The film could use a few more such colorful secondary strands adjoining the main conflict, though one subplot involving a maybe-romance between two jaded journalists assigned to the summit is oddly framed and abruptly dropped.
    — Guy Lodge, Variety, 12 Aug. 2026
Definition of conflict
Noun
  • Unfortunately, he has been reduced to a shadow of the fighter who once made his mark in the featherweight and lightweight divisions.
    — Brian Mazique, Forbes.com, 16 Aug. 2026
  • Even as the 2024-25 season hoved into view, the phone failed to ring, prompting James to wonder if this really was it for a senior career that, up to then, had been spent exclusively in the top two divisions of the English game.
    — Richard Sutcliffe, New York Times, 16 Aug. 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 19 Aug. 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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