as in slivers
a small sharp piece of something (such as glass or pottery)
Watch out for the shards of glass on the floor.
Related Words
Relevance
Dissimilar Words
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 shards
Scant artifacts survived those conditions, and almost all the porcelain recovered from the site consisted of shards.
—
Issy Ronald, CNN Money, 28 Feb. 2026
Using two butter knives or a pastry cutter, work the butter into the flour until the mixture looks shaggy, with pea-size pieces and a few flatter shards.
—Monti Carlo, AJC.com, 27 Feb. 2026
The meatballs may contain shards of metal, posing a safety risk.
—Jenna Anderson, Health, 23 Feb. 2026
Jagged shards of memory shown in flashbacks suggest Laura’s fear and vulnerability as a young girl (played by the filmmakers’ daughter Eliz Mundruczó), alongside indications of narcissistic, at times violent Ivan’s shortcomings as a parent.
—David Rooney, HollywoodReporter, 16 Feb. 2026
To make this mulch, crush broken terracotta pieces into smaller chunky shards and scatter them around snail and slug-vulnerable plants, including lettuces, hostas, or strawberries.
—Michelle Mastro, Martha Stewart, 6 Feb. 2026
It’s now called the chocolate pistachio kouign amann, and instead of phyllo dough, his bakery uses toasted shards of kouign amann.
—Linda Zavoral, Mercury News, 5 Feb. 2026
Viewers encountered only the residue of the performance, in the form of an empty black stage and salt casts of the band’s gear, arranged around a pile of black shards.
—Rachel Wetzler, Artforum, 1 Feb. 2026
When the shards of symbolic celebration shatter, they are often left to navigate the jagged realities of structural and institutional neglect.
—Jallicia Jolly, Forbes.com, 24 Jan. 2026
Issy Ronald, CNN Money, 28 Feb. 2026
Using two butter knives or a pastry cutter, work the butter into the flour until the mixture looks shaggy, with pea-size pieces and a few flatter shards.
—Monti Carlo, AJC.com, 27 Feb. 2026
The meatballs may contain shards of metal, posing a safety risk.
—Jenna Anderson, Health, 23 Feb. 2026
Jagged shards of memory shown in flashbacks suggest Laura’s fear and vulnerability as a young girl (played by the filmmakers’ daughter Eliz Mundruczó), alongside indications of narcissistic, at times violent Ivan’s shortcomings as a parent.
—David Rooney, HollywoodReporter, 16 Feb. 2026
To make this mulch, crush broken terracotta pieces into smaller chunky shards and scatter them around snail and slug-vulnerable plants, including lettuces, hostas, or strawberries.
—Michelle Mastro, Martha Stewart, 6 Feb. 2026
It’s now called the chocolate pistachio kouign amann, and instead of phyllo dough, his bakery uses toasted shards of kouign amann.
—Linda Zavoral, Mercury News, 5 Feb. 2026
Viewers encountered only the residue of the performance, in the form of an empty black stage and salt casts of the band’s gear, arranged around a pile of black shards.
—Rachel Wetzler, Artforum, 1 Feb. 2026
When the shards of symbolic celebration shatter, they are often left to navigate the jagged realities of structural and institutional neglect.
—Jallicia Jolly, Forbes.com, 24 Jan. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for shards
Noun
-
On the tea-time menu that Wednesday is Vazhakkai Bajji, green plantain slivers folded into spicy chickpea batter, deep-fried a crisp orange-brown and presented on a banana leaf with a coconut dipping chutney on the side.—
Kalpana Mohan,
Mercury News,
4 Mar. 2026
-
Perfect serving size, too, where they are gobbled down before morphing back into plain, lukewarm potato slivers.—
Evan Grant,
Dallas Morning News,
25 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
The artist adds spaces within some words and combines other fragments, producing a delay between reading and comprehension.—
Daniel R. Quiles,
Artforum,
1 Mar. 2026
-
Researchers have discovered and analyzed the world’s oldest geometric patterns on 60,000-year-old ostrich egg fragments, revealing the complex cognition that eventually enabled Homo sapiens to invent writing.—
Maria Mocerino,
Interesting Engineering,
1 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
New particles and rare processes can be revealed through accelerator physics at or beyond the current energy frontiers, but this is not without risk.—
Big Think,
Big Think,
5 Mar. 2026
-
Within the cloud, water droplets and ice particles begin to form and create an electrical charge.—
Mary Wasson,
Austin American Statesman,
5 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
Subjects are often, to the naked eye, tiny specks of light surrounded by darkness.—
Tantse Walter,
Space.com,
5 Mar. 2026
-
Tiny beads of blood had seeped out and dried into tiny specks.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
9 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
Although other pests cause similar damage, thrips damage is often associate with numerous small flecks of dark green to black fecal matter.—
Arricca Elin SanSone,
Southern Living,
3 Mar. 2026
-
Jimenez created this manicure using a sage green shimmer polish enhanced with delicate silver flecks, giving the shade incredible depth and dimension.—
Kara Jillian Brown,
InStyle,
26 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
The audience gets glimmers of Katie and Greg’s relationship, but the show is bogged down by dull characters like the policeman who seems to have it out for Greg, and even by its focus on Archie’s point of view, which is just a depiction of narcissism and a formulaic pseudo-midlife crisis.—
Aramide Tinubu,
Variety,
5 Mar. 2026
-
The sun and light glimmers and shines off this material and the entire interior looks, and feels, slick like a black lacquer has been applied throughout.—
Joel Feder,
The Drive,
5 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
It’s built for extremes with IP68 waterproofing and 5x saltwater resistance, ensuring sea splashes or sweat won't stop its 50W of powerful audio.—
Juhi Wadia,
PC Magazine,
5 Mar. 2026
-
Lightweight cottons and linens feel airy and relaxed, while washable blends are practical in a space consistently exposed to cooking splatter, splashes, and humidity.—
Wendy Rose Gould,
Martha Stewart,
27 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
The jokes and musical bits are amusing but not groundbreaking, and the story is too light and slow to have a real impact.—
Rachel Simon,
Vulture,
6 Mar. 2026
-
Use your hands to agitate the greens (this will dislodge any stubborn bits of grit or dirt), then drain and spin dry.—
Riley Wofford,
Martha Stewart,
5 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Shards.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/shards. Accessed 10 Mar. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
