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
Jay, a gay man in his thirties, is sectioned after a bipolar episode and refuses to accept his diagnosis. Callum McLennan, Variety, 19 Aug. 2025 This time last year, Hayley, 57, was sectioned and admitted to a psychiatric unit. Lucy Notarantonio, MSNBC Newsweek, 16 Aug. 2025
Verb
In the comments section of the post, Schumer's friends complimented her body transformation. Desiree Anello, PEOPLE, 5 Oct. 2025 While the roads are well-maintained, the winding mountain sections require attentive driving, especially when leaf-peeping traffic increases. Taryn White, Travel + Leisure, 5 Oct. 2025 See All Example Sentences for section
Recent Examples of Synonyms for section
Noun
  • There is also a cry for reform and that includes adding commission districts and holding elections in even years.
    Miami Herald Staff, Miami Herald, 8 Oct. 2025
  • The districts argued that complying would mean defying Virginia law and a 2020 federal appeals court ruling.
    Megan O’Matz, ProPublica, 8 Oct. 2025
Noun
  • If passed, the bill would force hundreds of dispensaries and smoke shops across the state to remove large portions of their inventory.
    Gina Lee Castro, jsonline.com, 3 Oct. 2025
  • That means Swift incorporated a portion of the pop classic's composition into her version, in this case the melody and beginning chorus lyrics.
    Bryan West, USA Today, 3 Oct. 2025
Verb
  • The Substance actress, whose signature jet-black, silky and sleek hair is usually parted at the center, wore her tresses styled in a wavy blowout with teased bangs by Dimitris Giannetos.
    Angel Saunders, PEOPLE, 7 Oct. 2025
  • The actress wore her gray hair in curls and parted down the middle, keeping her makeup subtle, except for bold red lipstick.
    Lori A Bashian, FOXNews.com, 5 Oct. 2025
Noun
  • Too many working families are being priced out of their own neighborhoods.
    Miami Herald Staff, Miami Herald, 8 Oct. 2025
  • The fire tore through affluent coastal neighborhoods, leveling mansions with sweeping ocean views and reducing schools, businesses and churches to ash.
    Gabe Whisnant, MSNBC Newsweek, 8 Oct. 2025
Noun
  • The second time was in August, when water and mud from a record-breaking rainstorm surged through a wall and a basement window, demolishing a segment of her home's cinderblock foundation, and allowing nearly 4 feet of water to pool on those same basement floors.
    Tamia Fowlkes, jsonline.com, 6 Oct. 2025
  • There are 24 cameras on every track, each aimed at a specific segment, and dozens of other cameras elsewhere.
    Erik Shilling, Robb Report, 6 Oct. 2025
Verb
  • Just when things appeared to cool down and players were separated, another skirmish occurred near the bleachers.
    Ryan Gaydos, FOXNews.com, 8 Oct. 2025
  • Tocchet tried playing the two of them together in camp, in practices and in the preseason games, but separated them for the final preseason game and for Monday’s practice.
    Kevin Kurz, New York Times, 8 Oct. 2025
Noun
  • Emergency crews faced challenges reaching the crash site due to heavy traffic and the ongoing freeway construction zone.
    Ishani Desai, Sacbee.com, 7 Oct. 2025
  • Daniels stepped up to the right to avoid pressure from outside linebacker Tuli Tuipulotu and found Samuel sitting in a soft spot in the Chargers’ zone.
    Nicki Jhabvala, New York Times, 7 Oct. 2025
Verb
  • Divided by borders, and further fragmented by custom and belief into tribelets of ideology, each suspicious and distrustful of the other.
    Katie Bain, Billboard, 3 Oct. 2025
  • As human civilization developed in Egypt and Rome and India, lion and tiger populations were fragmented, decimated.
    Rebecca van Laer September 30, Literary Hub, 30 Sep. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Section.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/section. Accessed 9 Oct. 2025.

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