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shard

noun

Definition of shardnext
as in sliver
a small sharp piece of something (such as glass or pottery) Watch out for the shards of glass on the floor.

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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 shard Space-grade electronics will cost more, and the ball’s shell—made from a material tough enough to roll over steel shards and withstand minus 184 °C temperatures—has never been evaluated in lunar extremes. — IEEE Spectrum, 3 Sep. 2026 Smaller glass shards likely won’t cause symptoms, but bigger pieces with sharp edges run the risk of damaging the throat, stomach and intestines, according to the National Capital Poison Center. — Charlotte Observer, 3 Sep. 2026 Floating islands exist all over the world in wetlands, where shards of shore often break off into the water. — Mary Randolph, Scientific American, 2 Sep. 2026 But globs of liquid mercury worked just fine to show the melting shards coming together, even though its toxicity meant the special effects crew had to wear protective gear over the two-day shoot. — ArsTechnica, 28 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for shard
Recent Examples of Synonyms for shard
  1. sliver
  2. fragment
  3. particle
  4. speck
  5. glimmer
  6. splash
  7. fleck
  8. shred
Noun
  • Here, generous sleeves and fluid movement deliver plenty of drama without exposing so much as a sliver of skin.
    — Sarah Zendejas, Vogue, 25 Sep. 2026
  • Layer a simple white tank underneath so only a sliver peeks out from the collar.
    — Julia Morlino, Travel + Leisure, 24 Sep. 2026
Definition of sliver
Noun
  • The collection underscores jewelry’s role as a way to preserve fragments of nature — material memories designed to endure.
    — Virginia Corneli, Footwear News, 23 Sep. 2026
  • The drawings render shamanic visions, fragments of the cosmos, and other entities as images.
    — Rafil Kroll-Zaidi, Harpers Magazine, 22 Sep. 2026
Definition of fragment
Noun
  • The rule also translates to an extra 90 tons a year of soot particles and 4,870 additional tons a year of smog components such as nitrogen oxides and volatile organic compounds emitted into the air in coming years, experts say.
    — Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 29 Sep. 2026
  • When transitioning from hard flooring to rugs or carpets, the system automatically adjusts suction levels and modifies its brush roll behavior to maximize particle pickup while preventing hair entanglements around the main rollers.
    — New Atlas, New Atlas, 29 Sep. 2026
Definition of particle
Noun
  • The period is 2006, when the golden age of streamable content is barely a speck on the media horizon.
    — Justin Chang, New Yorker, 25 Sep. 2026
  • To make matters worse, the Houthis have captured new terrain in Yemen and acquired Perim Island, a speck of land inside the Bab el-Mandeb chokepoint that better positions the Yemeni militia to intercept oil tankers.
    — Daniel DePetris, Chicago Tribune, 15 Sep. 2026
Definition of speck
Noun
  • These sensual glimmers are no match for the antagonistic sociality of straight male relationships, which, in this novel, quickly convert sympathy or desire into rivalry and aggression.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 24 Sep. 2026
  • Smatterings of dull hardware added a hint of glimmer to Anna Sui’s dark denim.
    — Angela Velasquez, Footwear News, 23 Sep. 2026
Definition of glimmer
Noun
  • Coastal flood alerts remain up through Sunday evening for splash-over and minor to moderate coastal flooding during high tides on Sunday.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 27 Sep. 2026
  • Wash it all down with a couple of Wet Martinis, one of the prepared vermouths that packs a punch thanks to the sharp splash of orange bitters.
    — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 26 Sep. 2026
Definition of splash
Noun
  • Add the torn basil and process just until incorporated -- there will be flecks of green in the mixture.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 19 Sep. 2026
  • Some kits include stone-like chips or flecks to scatter over the surface of the wet paint for a realistic effect.
    — Karen Brewer Grossman, Southern Living, 8 Sep. 2026
Definition of fleck
Noun
  • The congress has repeatedly amended the constitution to concentrate power in Ortega’s hands and eliminate any shred of democratic independence and dissent.
    — Sergio R. Bustos, Miami Herald, 19 Sep. 2026
  • On the greatest night of his greatest coaching feat, Sarkisian acted without grace or a shred of tact.
    — Candace Buckner, New York Times, 16 Sep. 2026
Definition of shred

Browse Nearby Words

shaping up
shard
shards
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Cite this Entry

“Shard.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/shard. Accessed 30 Sep. 2026.

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