sliver 1 of 2

noun

ˈsli-vər How to pronounce sliver (audio)
Definition of slivernext
as in chip
a small flat piece separated from a whole I got a sliver of wood stuck in my finger

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

sliver

2 of 2

verb

ˈsli-vər How to pronounce sliver (audio)
as in to slice
to cut into long slender pieces carefully slivered the rattan stems into strips for basketry

Synonyms & Similar 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 sliver
Noun
The broader Aston Martin company unloaded a sliver of the team at a $3 billion-plus valuation about a year ago as well. — Justin Birnbaum, Sportico.com, 20 Aug. 2026 Although the wealthy Gulf oil states and small slivers of Arab elites flourished within this system, for most people the American order meant only violence, hopelessness, and deprivation. — Marc Lynch, Foreign Affairs, 18 Aug. 2026
Verb
The dish was popularized in the western Oklahoma City suburb of El Reno, where Ross Davis first piled slivered onions onto thin beef patties at his Hamburger Inn. — Travel + Leisure Editors, Travel + Leisure, 19 May 2026 See All Example Sentences for sliver
Recent Examples of Synonyms for sliver
  1. chip
  2. slice
  3. fragment
  4. shard
  5. splinter
Noun
  • For comparison, Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company (TSMC), the world’s largest foundry, began mass-producing 7nm chips in 2018 and can achieve yields exceeding 90%, depending on factors including chip design and die size.
    — Maria Mocerino, Interesting Engineering, 30 Aug. 2026
  • Slate chips replace the usual bark or mulch, and layered plantings, custom window boxes and a medallion set into the rear of the fireplace show the same level of care found indoors.
    — David Caraccio, Sacbee.com, 29 Aug. 2026
Definition of chip
Verb
  • The Himalayan landmass, where last week’s deadly flooding in Nepal and China took place, rises from shifting fault lines and is sliced by mighty rivers that are fed by glaciers.
    — Simone McCarthy, CNN Money, 31 Aug. 2026
  • Highland senior defensive end Jace Harris sliced into the backfield to make a tackle for a loss during the first series against visiting Whiting on Friday.
    — Michael Osipoff, Chicago Tribune, 29 Aug. 2026
Definition of slice
Noun
  • In a sequencer that resembled a large fridge, millions of short nucleic-acid fragments would be identified in the span of ten hours.
    — Jason Liebowitz, New Yorker, 25 Aug. 2026
  • The artifacts included eight deformed sickles, one intact sickle, part of a sword blade, ornament fragments, three ingots and two unfinished objects.
    — Andrea Margolis, FOXNews.com, 25 Aug. 2026
Definition of fragment
Noun
  • But globs of liquid mercury worked just fine to show the melting shards coming together, even though its toxicity meant the special effects crew had to wear protective gear over the two-day shoot.
    — ArsTechnica, ArsTechnica, 28 Aug. 2026
  • According to a study published today in the journal PLOS One, pottery shards excavated from the famous Etowah mounds in present-day Georgia contain trace residues of the plant.
    — Andrew Paul, Popular Science, 26 Aug. 2026
Definition of shard
Noun
  • Los Lobos emerged as a splinter organization from Los Choneros and has established routes into Mexico through relationships with organizations including Cartel de Jalisco Nueva Generación, Treasury said.
    — Antonio María Delgado, Miami Herald, 20 Aug. 2026
  • One day, while washing a wooden cutting board, a splinter lodged in my left index finger.
    — E. Tammy Kim, New Yorker, 15 Aug. 2026
Definition of splinter

Browse Nearby Words

slitting
sliver
slivered
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Sliver.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/sliver. Accessed 1 Sep. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on sliver

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about sliver

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