section 1 of 2

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

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
He was elected to represent the 1st District in 2022, after officials sectioned the city. Mathew Miranda, Sacbee.com, 5 May 2025 Towel dry, then section your hair into six equal parts for even application. Conçetta Ciarlo, Vogue, 18 Apr. 2025
Verb
Best Amazon Prime Day Comfortable Shoe Deals Amazon’s sale shoe section is chock-full of top brands. Genevieve Cepeda, Travel + Leisure, 9 July 2025 Fortunately, Free People’s sale section is bursting at the seams right now — featuring longline shorts made for pairing with cowboy boots, oversized crewnecks you’ll be tempted to throw on over your bikini once the sun goes down, and similar seasonal essentials. Stacia Datskovska, Footwear News, 9 July 2025 See All Example Sentences for section
Recent Examples of Synonyms for section
Noun
  • Working to ensure the district meets requirements in the district's corrective action plan with the state Department of Public Instruction to submit missing financial data and improve the district's financial reporting practices.
    Alec Johnson, jsonline.com, 5 July 2025
  • Implementing the air district’s network of monitors in Imperial Beach, Nestor and San Ysidro and its advisory system were some of the first significant efforts by a public agency to acknowledge the experiences of local communities.
    Tammy Murga, San Diego Union-Tribune, 5 July 2025
Noun
  • Central Texas is reeling from destructive and deadly floodwaters on the Fourth of July, spurred by nearly unprecedented rainfall that swelled the Guadalupe River — drowning portions of the state's Hill Country.
    Adam Carlson, People.com, 7 July 2025
  • When Harris was asked about the Biden administration’s relationship with Israel’s prime minister, CBS producers used different portions of her answer on two programs.
    Robert W. Wood, Forbes.com, 7 July 2025
Verb
  • As the clock struck five on Saturday evening, the clouds over Lake Montauk parted and the sun beamed down—just in time for Loro Piana’s chic cocktail gathering at the Crow’s Nest.
    Lilah Ramzi, Vogue, 30 June 2025
  • To compliment the blue cotton candy tones of the ensemble, Rihanna wore her hair in a sweet half-up do, leaving out face-framing sections that were parted down the middle and swept towards her ears.
    Emily Tannenbaum, Glamour, 29 June 2025
Noun
  • Some neighborhood residents are opposed, saying the loss of woodlands would harm an important environmental area.
    Tom Daykin, jsonline.com, 9 July 2025
  • In lower-income areas, where trapping is less common, coyotes tended to roam more freely, even though these neighborhoods often had more pollution and fewer resources that would typically support wild canines.
    Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 9 July 2025
Noun
  • Rise’s sunroom and patio are next to a large lawn and greenspace that replaced a segment of parking lot.
    Bud Kennedy, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 1 July 2025
  • That was the largest acquisition in the company’s history, aimed at helping Home Depot win a much bigger share of the mammoth professional-contractors segment.
    Jim Edwards, Fortune, 1 July 2025
Verb
  • The extension is fully separated from all auto, bicycle and pedestrian travel.
    Rowan Briggs, Mercury News, 10 July 2025
  • The entity is separated from the operating business, while governance remains informal, echoing the founder’s leadership style.
    Paul Westall, Forbes.com, 10 July 2025
Noun
  • Tennessee is split between the Eastern and Central time zones.
    Joyce Orlando, The Tennessean, 12 July 2025
  • Witnesses and health officials say hundreds have been killed by Israeli fire while heading toward the distribution points through military zones off limits to independent media.
    arkansasonline.com, arkansasonline.com, 12 July 2025
Verb
  • As a result, pain education is often fragmented or squeezed into pharmacology or palliative care modules, if it’s included at all.
    Hany Demian, Forbes.com, 10 July 2025
  • In the Internet era, content is not only abundant but increasingly fragmented.
    Harvard Business Review, Harvard Business Review, 10 July 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Section.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/section. Accessed 15 Jul. 2025.

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