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
Kafka’s life and work are fragmented, so the film had to be fragmented too—piecing together shards of his fiction, his letters, and his lived experience.
—
Scott Roxborough, HollywoodReporter, 8 Sep. 2025
Did a Smurl sister really vomit bloody glass shards?
—Brian Truitt, USA Today, 5 Sep. 2025
The archaeologists also came across obsidian fragments and pottery shards.
—Andrea Margolis, FOXNews.com, 4 Sep. 2025
In this add on, a meteor lands on a volcanic island and so Kirby is left collecting shards of a shattered crystal and preventing an eerie presence from inside the rock from escaping.
—Joshua Lamb, Forbes.com, 1 Sep. 2025
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
Scott Roxborough, HollywoodReporter, 8 Sep. 2025
Did a Smurl sister really vomit bloody glass shards?
—Brian Truitt, USA Today, 5 Sep. 2025
The archaeologists also came across obsidian fragments and pottery shards.
—Andrea Margolis, FOXNews.com, 4 Sep. 2025
In this add on, a meteor lands on a volcanic island and so Kirby is left collecting shards of a shattered crystal and preventing an eerie presence from inside the rock from escaping.
—Joshua Lamb, Forbes.com, 1 Sep. 2025
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
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
-
Choose Tools That Seamlessly Integrate Choose tools that integrate seamlessly so information flows, not fragments.—
Expert Panel®,
Forbes.com,
8 Sep. 2025
-
His truth exists only in fragments, in pieces.—
Scott Roxborough,
HollywoodReporter,
8 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
This area of open magnetic fields more easily releases charged particles into space.—
Jamie Carter,
Forbes.com,
13 Sep. 2025
-
It is composed of smaller particles called quarks and gluons, bound by the strong interaction.—
Aman Tripathi,
Interesting Engineering,
13 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
Toothpaste specks needs to be removed from mirrors.—
Cody Godwin,
USA Today,
7 Sep. 2025
-
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
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
-
Almost certainly out this week also is injured receiver Xavier Worthy (shoulder), who provided most of the scant glimmers of hope in the Super Bowl with eight catches for 157 yards and two touchdowns.—
Vahe Gregorian,
Kansas City Star,
11 Sep. 2025
-
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
Noun
-
The Amiron Zero are designed to be resistant to dust and splashes thanks to the IP54 rating.—
Mark Sparrow,
Forbes.com,
3 Sep. 2025
-
These processes created microscopic craters and splashes of molten rock on the asteroid's surface, according to the paper.—
Sharmila Kuthunur,
Space.com,
2 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
Target dropped new trench coats in various lengths and shades, with prices starting at just $22.—
Jacqueline Tempera,
PEOPLE,
9 Sep. 2025
-
Those shades are likely to be orange and blue, which Apple's invite may have hinted at.—
PC Magazine,
PC Magazine,
9 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Shards.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/shards. Accessed 16 Sep. 2025.
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