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
The reader bobs along in the author’s stream of consciousness, riding crests of despair, anger, and hilarity as Toews assembles the shards of her past to investigate her will to write, which is deeply entwined with her will to live.
—
Kristen Martin, The Atlantic, 27 Aug. 2025
More elaborate approaches might involve steel plates to help absorb the shock of an explosion or keep concrete shards from flying off the walls and damaging equipment or injuring personnel.
—Samuel Granados, New York Times, 20 Aug. 2025
But remnants of data can be retrieved even from shards, so smelting shredded equipment is a final step that customers might prefer — although that process is criticized for emitting toxic fumes.
—Bob Woods, CNBC, 20 Aug. 2025
Two influencers filming a food review video inside a Houston restaurant inadvertently captured the terrifying moment an SUV crashed through the glass wall beside their table, showering them with shards in the middle of their meal.
—Alice Gibbs, MSNBC Newsweek, 19 Aug. 2025
The video shows staff staring in disbelief as jagged shards rained down, littering the floor in the immediate aftermath.
—Sarah Rumpf-Whitten, FOXNews.com, 19 Aug. 2025
Each step sends shards of stone clattering downhill, debris once sealed beneath glacial ice.
—Molly Hunter, NBC news, 19 Aug. 2025
Even tiny shards travel at extreme speeds and can puncture satellites or damage instruments.
—Aamir Khollam, Interesting Engineering, 18 Aug. 2025
Her lyrics are shards of imagery; non-narrative; fragments of self- reflection.
—Darryn King, Forbes, 4 Jan. 2025
Kristen Martin, The Atlantic, 27 Aug. 2025
More elaborate approaches might involve steel plates to help absorb the shock of an explosion or keep concrete shards from flying off the walls and damaging equipment or injuring personnel.
—Samuel Granados, New York Times, 20 Aug. 2025
But remnants of data can be retrieved even from shards, so smelting shredded equipment is a final step that customers might prefer — although that process is criticized for emitting toxic fumes.
—Bob Woods, CNBC, 20 Aug. 2025
Two influencers filming a food review video inside a Houston restaurant inadvertently captured the terrifying moment an SUV crashed through the glass wall beside their table, showering them with shards in the middle of their meal.
—Alice Gibbs, MSNBC Newsweek, 19 Aug. 2025
The video shows staff staring in disbelief as jagged shards rained down, littering the floor in the immediate aftermath.
—Sarah Rumpf-Whitten, FOXNews.com, 19 Aug. 2025
Each step sends shards of stone clattering downhill, debris once sealed beneath glacial ice.
—Molly Hunter, NBC news, 19 Aug. 2025
Even tiny shards travel at extreme speeds and can puncture satellites or damage instruments.
—Aamir Khollam, Interesting Engineering, 18 Aug. 2025
Her lyrics are shards of imagery; non-narrative; fragments of self- reflection.
—Darryn King, Forbes, 4 Jan. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for shards
Noun
-
The token slivers of human-interest drama (a divorce battle, a visit to the pediatrician) that are meant to counterpoint the possibility of Armageddon with the oh-so-ironic triviality of quotidian concerns.—
Owen Gleiberman,
Variety,
2 Sep. 2025
-
The suit sharpens political and regulatory scrutiny of Apple’s AI design choices, may pry open slivers of discovery that inform the DOJ’s case, and could even spur Apple to codify more explicit user choice.—
Anisha Sircar,
Forbes.com,
28 Aug. 2025
Noun
-
Yet too often, HR leaves this work to others — and culture fragments in the process.—
Vibhas Ratanjee,
Forbes.com,
3 Sep. 2025
-
Dafoe brings ballast and humanity to it, uniting its fragments as Lucius decides what to do with his future.—
Caryn James,
HollywoodReporter,
31 Aug. 2025
Noun
-
The only safe way to get real fires was laying gas lines and creating gas burns, without releasing any particles in the air that would potentially cause a forest fire.—
Tomris Laffly,
Time,
6 Sep. 2025
-
For batteries, Veith’s team used silica particles suspended in standard electrolytes.—
Bojan Stojkovski,
Interesting Engineering,
6 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
Silvery or mottled patches on leaves, brown or distorted petal edges, dark specks (feces) or flower buds that fail to open are signs of thrips.—
Arricca Elin SanSone,
Southern Living,
24 Aug. 2025
-
In the show’s premiere episode, Knox arrives home after a night spent at Raffaele’s to find her front door open, specks of blood on the sink and a bloody bathroom mat.—
Nicole Briese,
People.com,
23 Aug. 2025
Noun
-
Its black and white or brown flecks convey a fresh, modern feel that's ideal for breaking away from the tyranny of basics.—
María Munsuri,
Glamour,
24 Aug. 2025
-
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,
5 Aug. 2025
Noun
-
There were glimmers of the magnificent past at the 2024 French Open against Iga Swiatek when Osaka won the second set 6-1 and was within a point of going 5-1 up in the decider.—
Tim Ellis,
Forbes.com,
2 Sep. 2025
-
Servillo is such a sly actor, and the director showcases his deadpan performance with such slow-build curiosity, that the film is always cueing us to read his mind, to see the glimmers of thought and soul behind the façade.—
Owen Gleiberman,
Variety,
27 Aug. 2025
Noun
-
To enhance the interior design, Cleopatra’s jewelry informed the use of high-contrast black and white, accented with emeralds and splashes of Roman red in the bedrooms and bathrooms.—
Melinda Sheckells,
Forbes.com,
20 Aug. 2025
-
After paddling along the ground, the TikTok video then shows Gus leaping around in the water and making plenty of splashes.—
Alyce Collins,
MSNBC Newsweek,
20 Aug. 2025
Noun
-
In the photo, the actor wears a black sweatshirt paired with white jeans and a pair of tie-up boots, completing the look with a pair of shades.—
Madison E. Goldberg,
People.com,
2 Sep. 2025
-
Prior to that, the castle had a more classical look, with creams and grays and blue accents that were more subdued than the current shades in use.—
Kimberly Holland,
Southern Living,
2 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Shards.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/shards. Accessed 8 Sep. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share