section 1 of 2

Definition of sectionnext
1
as in district
an area (as of a city) set apart for some purpose or having some special feature several abandoned warehouses in the city's industrial section are being converted into art galleries and artists' lofts

Synonyms & Similar Words

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2
as in portion
one of the pieces from which something is designed to be assembled had trouble fitting the sections of the bookcase together

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

section

2 of 2

verb

Synonym Chooser

How is the word section distinct from other similar nouns?

Some common synonyms of section are division, fragment, member, part, piece, portion, and segment. While all these words mean "something less than the whole," section applies to a relatively small or uniform part.

the entertainment section of the newspaper

In what contexts can division take the place of section?

Although the words division and section have much in common, division applies to a large or diversified part.

the manufacturing division of the company

When is it sensible to use fragment instead of section?

The words fragment and section are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, fragment applies to a part produced by or as if by breaking off.

only a fragment of the play still exists

When is member a more appropriate choice than section?

While in some cases nearly identical to section, member suggests one of the functional units composing a body.

a structural member

When can part be used instead of section?

The synonyms part and section are sometimes interchangeable, but part is a general term appropriate when indefiniteness is required.

they ran only part of the way

When would piece be a good substitute for section?

The words piece and section can be used in similar contexts, but piece applies to a separate or detached part of a whole.

a puzzle with 500 pieces

When could portion be used to replace section?

While the synonyms portion and section are close in meaning, portion implies an assigned or allotted part.

cut the pie into six portions

When might segment be a better fit than section?

In some situations, the words segment and section are roughly equivalent. However, 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 section distinct from other similar nouns?

Some common synonyms of section are division, fragment, member, part, piece, portion, and segment. While all these words mean "something less than the whole," section applies to a relatively small or uniform part.

the entertainment section of the newspaper

In what contexts can division take the place of section?

Although the words division and section have much in common, division applies to a large or diversified part.

the manufacturing division of the company

When is it sensible to use fragment instead of section?

The words fragment and section are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, fragment applies to a part produced by or as if by breaking off.

only a fragment of the play still exists

When is member a more appropriate choice than section?

While in some cases nearly identical to section, member suggests one of the functional units composing a body.

a structural member

When can part be used instead of section?

The synonyms part and section are sometimes interchangeable, but part is a general term appropriate when indefiniteness is required.

they ran only part of the way

When would piece be a good substitute for section?

The words piece and section can be used in similar contexts, but piece applies to a separate or detached part of a whole.

a puzzle with 500 pieces

When could portion be used to replace section?

While the synonyms portion and section are close in meaning, portion implies an assigned or allotted part.

cut the pie into six portions

When might segment be a better fit than section?

In some situations, the words segment and section are roughly equivalent. However, 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 section
Noun
In a similar vein, the Business section featured an article on our inequitable national tax structure, which enables the wealthy to grow their wealth while most people, besieged by income taxes and rising property taxes, struggle. Dp Opinion, Denver Post, 10 Apr. 2026 The click triggers disclosure of additional information about the seat, including section, row, zone and quality of view. Michael McCann, Sportico.com, 10 Apr. 2026
Verb
So, where does section 179 fit into all of this? Kelly Phillips Erb, Forbes.com, 17 Jan. 2026 Snowpiercer Survivors of Earth's second ice age live out their days on a luxury train that's sectioned by class. Madeline Buiano, Martha Stewart, 30 Dec. 2025 See All Example Sentences for section
Recent Examples of Synonyms for section
Noun
  • The two measures in tandem will fund the district’s operating budget at a higher level without an additional burden to taxpayers.
    Ilana Arougheti, Kansas City Star, 8 Apr. 2026
  • Fuller beat Democrat Shawn Harris in the northwest Georgia district after the two advanced from a crowded field of candidates in a special election on March 10.
    Caitlin Yilek, CBS News, 8 Apr. 2026
Noun
  • Success, Guerra said, will depend in part on whether the county will contribute its portion of the property tax increases, and on officials’ ability to attract new, for-profit businesses to the area.
    ANNIKA MERRILEES, Sacbee.com, 8 Apr. 2026
  • During their flyby on April 6, 2026, the Artemis II crew captured a portion of the moon along the boundary between lunar day and night, where low-angle sunlight casts long, dramatic shadows across the surface, revealing rugged topography, craters and ridges in striking detail.
    Kerry Breen, CBS News, 7 Apr. 2026
Verb
  • Forever Goldy® Arborvitae tolerates full sun to part shade or dappled sunlight but will produce the best color in full sun.
    Kim Toscano, Southern Living, 10 Apr. 2026
  • Rosie Huntington-Whiteley’s shag looks effortlessly cool parted to the side and roughed up with a texturizing spray.
    Ariel Wodarcyk, InStyle, 7 Apr. 2026
Noun
  • The neighborhood/area While visitors are encouraged to tour Cockburn Harbor, South Caicos’s capital and largest settlement, the island’s appeal is its desolation.
    Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 7 Apr. 2026
  • Businesses along the Watt Avenue corridor say opening the shelter is critical to reducing neighborhood crime and blight.
    James Taylor, CBS News, 7 Apr. 2026
Noun
  • The show began with a pre-recorded segment echoing Alfred Hitchcock's Psycho that featured Sam Elliott as an off-putting traffic cop.
    Wesley Stenzel, Entertainment Weekly, 12 Apr. 2026
  • Even short, regular walks – whether around your neighborhood or broken into 10-to-15-minute segments throughout the day – can improve cardiovascular health, boost mood and support digestion.
    Daryl Austin, USA Today, 11 Apr. 2026
Verb
  • On a computer, Krause pulled up a chromatography analysis, which separates mixtures into individual components.
    Dhruv Khullar, New Yorker, 6 Apr. 2026
  • Marriott is digging deep to separate itself as a luxury provider.
    Josh Brown,Sean Russo, CNBC, 6 Apr. 2026
Noun
  • Comfort spreads as the fertile Moon blesses your home zone and sextiles therapeutic Chiron in your 6th House of Sustainability.
    Tarot.com, Sun Sentinel, 12 Apr. 2026
  • Flying southwest to northeast, the spacecraft steered toward a splashdown zone southwest of San Diego, where a US Navy recovery ship held position to await the crew’s homecoming.
    Stephen Clark, ArsTechnica, 11 Apr. 2026
Verb
  • Each checkpoint exists because identity is fragmented across siloed systems.
    Alex Israel, Fortune, 4 Apr. 2026
  • Other historical comets have been linked to the Kreutz group, including one seen by Aristotle in 372 BC, which was observed to fragment into multiple pieces.
    Tony Hoffman, PC Magazine, 2 Apr. 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Section.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/section. Accessed 13 Apr. 2026.

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