SHARDS Synonyms: 96 Similar and Opposite Words

shards

noun

plural of shard

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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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 Others insist on seeds — poppy, sesame — or shards of onion or salt. — ABC News, 21 July 2026 Over the years, mounds, pottery shards and other relics of Native American settlements that once dotted the swamp have been discovered. — Drew Kann, AJC.com, 20 July 2026 The reflections from millions of debris shards would collectively increase light pollution worldwide, making astronomical observations more challenging even in the most remote locations on the planet. — David M. Klein, Washington Post, 16 July 2026 On a recent Thursday morning, Richetts’ artworks, the colorful shards of smooth shiny glass, were indeed speaking the language of healing — and spreading the gospel Richetts has been preaching for decades. — Michael James Rocha, San Diego Union-Tribune, 12 July 2026 The laminate reinforces the glass to create a shatter-resistant barrier, preventing shards of glass from flying out during extreme weather. — Michelle Mullins, Chicago Tribune, 5 July 2026 With grit and one-liners, this American hero navigates air vents and glass shards to save the day. — Brian Truitt, USA Today, 1 July 2026 The genetic blood disease can feel like shards of glass racing through veins, attacking every organ, Ogunsile said. — Larry Seward, CBS News, 29 June 2026 Hall had shards of glass in his chest when he was found, per Utilma Hora. — Julia Moore, PEOPLE, 16 June 2026

Recent Examples of Synonyms for shards

Noun

This flaky white fish looks like a gourmet dish when served over a bed of couscous and dressed with mixed greens and colorful radish slivers.

— Jasmine Thompson, Midwest Living, 25 July 2026
This white and pink ombré set is elevated with gold slivers to outline each nail.

— Daisy Maldonado, InStyle, 15 June 2026

Definition of slivers

Noun

Investigators recovered numerous pieces of evidence, including pieces of clothing, fired shell casings, DNA swabs and bullet fragments collected from Cherry’s body, according to the report.

— Lillie Davidson, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 31 July 2026
During a walk through the park, CBS News Philadelphia also found scattered screws, metal fragments and broken glass in parts of the lawn.

— Eva Andersen, CBS News, 30 July 2026

Definition of fragments

Noun

Six months later, there was hope of reconciliation as sovereignty talks opened between the governments over the specks in the ocean that had been part of the British Empire for more than a century.

— Mark Zeigler, San Diego Union-Tribune, 15 July 2026
Bellinger, once a babyface, now sports some light specks of gray.

— Johnny Flores Jr, New York Times, 15 July 2026

Definition of specks

Noun

One image of her right knee showed flecks of blue plastic that prosecutors said came from an inflatable pool Burke used to collect blood while dismembering her body.

— Nancy Dillon, Rolling Stone, 21 July 2026
Someone unfamiliar with salt bread might even suspect a major baking error, seeing a questionably smooth croissant that entirely missed the lamination process, adorned with only a few flecks of salt acting as its saving grace.

— Candy Hom, AJC.com, 19 July 2026

Definition of flecks

Noun

But take a closer look and the report actually provides glimmers of hope.

— TerDawn DeBoe, Forbes.com, 29 July 2026
There were glimmers of form from Yoane Wissa (DR Congo) and Anthony Elanga (Sweden), both of whom need to hit the ground running in the coming season.

— Anantaajith Raghuraman, New York Times, 24 July 2026

Definition of glimmers

Noun

Thoughtful splashes of color are fine tuned throughout the space, like sunny yellow cabinetry livening up the kitchen and window sills sporting a punchy shade of green.

— Audrey Lee, Architectural Digest, 23 July 2026
Four-poster beds and traditional wicker and mahogany interiors preserve the building’s original beauty, while splashes of color in the artwork and brightly hued soft furnishings add character.

— Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 19 July 2026

Definition of splashes

Noun

Sea bass crudo is a refreshing start, the succulent slices of fish interspersed with fresh mango and bits of teardrop pepper.

— Connie Ogle July 31, Miami Herald, 31 July 2026
This naturally generated probabilistic bits, or p-bits which aren’t fixed as zeros or ones, but fluctuate according to incoming data.

— Georgina Jedikovska, Interesting Engineering, 30 July 2026

Definition of bits

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“Shards.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/shards. Accessed 1 Aug. 2026.

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Synonyms of shards

noun

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