as in slivers
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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Recent Examples of shards
Scott Wedgewood finally came unglued and left Colorado’s chances of winning in shards on the ice.
—
Kyle Newman, Denver Post, 24 Oct. 2025
Splinters from the shotgun and metal shards from its trigger guard were found inside Barnes’ apartment — and linked back to the shotgun used in the murders.
—Grethel Aguila, Miami Herald, 23 Oct. 2025
Photos in the incident reports show the patrol car struck by shrapnel, and an officer holding the metal shards.
—Calmatters, Mercury News, 23 Oct. 2025
For humans, crystalline buildups in the body manifest as excruciating shards in joints—a condition known as gout—or as kidney stones in the urinary tract.
—Andrew Paul, Popular Science, 22 Oct. 2025
Pilot injured, passengers rebooked Photos shared online appeared to show one of the pilots with minor bruises and cuts on his forearm, likely caused by flying glass shards.
—Kaif Shaikh, Interesting Engineering, 20 Oct. 2025
Out of the shards, a message Douglass continued studying how the Malagasy have interacted with and adapted to their changing environment and climate over time.
—Ari Daniel, NPR, 8 Oct. 2025
The assault left four members dead and numerous others physically injured, some from gunshots, others by smoke inhalation and still others gashed and bleeding from shrapnel and shards of glass.
—Dinah Voyles Pulver, USA Today, 4 Oct. 2025
Researchers like me carefully separate out the tiny glass shards by sifting through the dirt and using a micromanipulator, a tool that can pick up and move microscopic grains.
—The Editors, JSTOR Daily, 25 Sep. 2025
Kyle Newman, Denver Post, 24 Oct. 2025
Splinters from the shotgun and metal shards from its trigger guard were found inside Barnes’ apartment — and linked back to the shotgun used in the murders.
—Grethel Aguila, Miami Herald, 23 Oct. 2025
Photos in the incident reports show the patrol car struck by shrapnel, and an officer holding the metal shards.
—Calmatters, Mercury News, 23 Oct. 2025
For humans, crystalline buildups in the body manifest as excruciating shards in joints—a condition known as gout—or as kidney stones in the urinary tract.
—Andrew Paul, Popular Science, 22 Oct. 2025
Pilot injured, passengers rebooked Photos shared online appeared to show one of the pilots with minor bruises and cuts on his forearm, likely caused by flying glass shards.
—Kaif Shaikh, Interesting Engineering, 20 Oct. 2025
Out of the shards, a message Douglass continued studying how the Malagasy have interacted with and adapted to their changing environment and climate over time.
—Ari Daniel, NPR, 8 Oct. 2025
The assault left four members dead and numerous others physically injured, some from gunshots, others by smoke inhalation and still others gashed and bleeding from shrapnel and shards of glass.
—Dinah Voyles Pulver, USA Today, 4 Oct. 2025
Researchers like me carefully separate out the tiny glass shards by sifting through the dirt and using a micromanipulator, a tool that can pick up and move microscopic grains.
—The Editors, JSTOR Daily, 25 Sep. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for shards
Noun
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This classic recipe is complemented by slivers of bacon and ranch, two Southern favorites.—
Mary Alice Russell,
Southern Living,
22 Oct. 2025
-
The elder Sitake knows about embracing faint slivers of light in dark times.—
Christopher Kamrani,
New York Times,
17 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
Herodotus recruits evidence from passages in the Iliad and the Odyssey to show that Homer himself knew at least fragments of this tale yet opted to tell another, better yarn.—
Elizabeth D. Samet,
Foreign Affairs,
29 Oct. 2025
-
Hind’s voice — fragments of which spread online and were later verified and analyzed by outlets including The Washington Post, Sky News and Forensic Architecture — became one of the most haunting and emblematic testaments of the war in Gaza.—
Etan Vlessing,
HollywoodReporter,
28 Oct. 2025
Noun
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These particles capture and transform substances like arsenic, lead, and mercury, as well as organic toxins and microplastics.—
Aamir Khollam,
Interesting Engineering,
24 Oct. 2025
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The jet is likely made up of carbon dioxide and dust particles—just like what was spotted by NASA's James Webb Space Telescope back in August.—
Elizabeth Howell,
Space.com,
24 Oct. 2025
Noun
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The tiny black specks of vanilla pack a surprisingly aromatic punch.—
Elizabeth Fogarty,
Better Homes & Gardens,
22 Oct. 2025
-
The pattern is a brownish batik produced by specks of tobacco.—
Zuzana Říhová,
Literary Hub,
26 Sep. 2025
Noun
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Nice vanilla bean flecks and round, fatty flavor with only the subtlest hint of coconut.—
Alex Beggs,
Bon Appetit Magazine,
28 Oct. 2025
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And Abrams-Draine still managed to emerge with just a few flecks of soot after getting thrown in the fire last season, picking off Justin Herbert in a loss to the Chargers and establishing himself as a building block in a spot start.—
Luca Evans,
Denver Post,
27 Oct. 2025
Noun
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Directed by Olivier & Tony Award nominee Jeremy Herrin (People, Places and Things; Wolf Hall) and MacMillan, Every Brilliant Thing revolves around a man who looks back at his life and the glimmers of hope that carried him through.—
Denise Petski,
Deadline,
29 Oct. 2025
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Well, that’s where the Golden State truly glimmers.—
AFAR Media,
AFAR Media,
24 Oct. 2025
Noun
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Designed by Hot Lab, the interiors are a study in contrast, with marble and precious stones playing against soft fabrics and neutral tones juxtaposed with bold splashes of color and pop art.—
Rachel Cormack,
Robb Report,
27 Oct. 2025
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Meanwhile, the rugged, waterproof build handles poolside splashes without drama.—
PC Magazine,
PC Magazine,
17 Oct. 2025
Noun
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Plus, the color options include both neutral shades and more vibrant hues like burgundy, olive, and purple.—
Rachel Trujillo,
PEOPLE,
29 Oct. 2025
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The lighting system complements the simple and intimate interior concept of the studio, which features essential furniture in wood and is dominated by neutral shades.—
Sandra Salibian,
Footwear News,
28 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Shards.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/shards. Accessed 4 Nov. 2025.
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