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 But Johnson’s lasting impact came from an uncanny ability to grab the all-encompassing darkness of his life and pull out jagged shards of beauty. — Steven Johnson, Washington Post, 14 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 Schippers created the work as part of a Floor Covering Series, which also included floors covered with glass shards and salt. — ABC News, 9 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 From the construction debris and pottery shards, in Hadrian’s day, the structure appeared to archaeologists to have been abandoned. — Maria Mocerino, Interesting Engineering, 13 June 2026

Recent Examples of Synonyms for shards

Noun

This white and pink ombré set is elevated with gold slivers to outline each nail.

— Daisy Maldonado, InStyle, 15 June 2026
Arranged over the top are dollops of crema and slivers of pickled yellow squash.

— Jenn Harris, Los Angeles Times, 11 June 2026

Definition of slivers

Noun

But, to be on the safe side, researchers decided to bring in a few of their key breeding stock — fragments of some of the last naturally occurring Elkhorn coral on the Florida reef — in case things get worse.

— Alex Harris July 23, Miami Herald, 23 July 2026
Young orcas then gobbled up fish fragments that drifted through the water as their elders tore into what was left of the sunfish’s corpse.

— Mindy Weisberger, CNN Money, 23 July 2026

Definition of fragments

Noun

Road dust is an issue because fine particles generated from traffic can get into residents’ lungs and cause respiratory issues, and the dust also reduces visibility, which can lead to accidents.

— Nathaniel Warner, The Conversation, 24 July 2026
These fiery particles seek out the smallest vulnerabilities, lodging in gutters, slipping through attic vents or settling into dry debris near your home.

— Neil Collins, Washington Post, 24 July 2026

Definition of particles

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

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
Spread a sheet of plastic or cloth over the porch if needed to protect the surface from splashes.

— Karen Brewer Grossman, Southern Living, 18 July 2026

Definition of splashes

Noun

The juvenile then ate the smaller bits of sunfish that had exploded due to the impact, while the adults fed on what remained of the body, but did not consume the smaller sunfish fragments.

— Laura Baisas, Popular Science, 23 July 2026
Advertisement One of the film’s comedic bits is your character and Jake Johnson’s character playing against a team in which both players grunt loudly on the court.

— Sean Gregory, Time, 23 July 2026

Definition of bits

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“Shards.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/shards. Accessed 26 Jul. 2026.

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Synonyms of shards

noun

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