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

Relevance

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
Their work lodges itself into the psyche like a sliver of wood thrust beneath a fingernail. — Alex Jovanovich, Artforum, 1 Sep. 2026 As the eclipse peaked, all but a thin sliver of the moon was covered by Earth’s shadow. — Julia Gomez, USA Today, 28 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 decades, electronic chips have powered almost every digital device around us, from smartphones and computers to the servers running artificial intelligence.
    — Kaif Shaikh, Interesting Engineering, 5 Sep. 2026
  • The deal also helps Nvidia hedge against hyperscalers' custom chips.
    — Alexa LoMonaco, CNBC, 5 Sep. 2026
Definition of chip
Verb
  • Eli White, starting for the third straight game in place of Rafaela, promptly sliced a single to left, scoring the first two runs.
    — Jen McCaffrey, New York Times, 6 Sep. 2026
  • Shingle ½ small crisp apple (such as Fuji or Gala), very thinly sliced, over cheese, then top with shallots.
    — Rebecca Firkser, Bon Appetit Magazine, 3 Sep. 2026
Definition of slice
Noun
  • Right now, nearly one million fragments of metal, paint, and shattered rocket parts larger than a single centimeter are tearing through Earth’s orbit at extreme speeds.
    — Mrigakshi Dixit, Interesting Engineering, 9 Sep. 2026
  • Researchers are also still unsure which spacecraft burn up completely and how many fragments may reach the ground, putting lives and property at risk.
    — Tereza Pultarova, Space.com, 8 Sep. 2026
Definition of fragment
Noun
  • Every piece — the pleated wrap top, the shorts adorned with trailing shards of silk chiffon — was hand-dyed or painted and then covered in Swarovski crystals.
    — Bianca Betancourt, CNN Money, 4 Sep. 2026
  • Space-grade electronics will cost more, and the ball’s shell—made from a material tough enough to roll over steel shards and withstand minus 184 °C temperatures—has never been evaluated in lunar extremes.
    — IEEE Spectrum, IEEE Spectrum, 3 Sep. 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 10 Sep. 2026.

Copy Citation

More from Merriam-Webster on sliver

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about sliver

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

Listen to the pronunciation of loath

See Definitions and Examples »

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

A Who’s Who Regarding ‘Who’s’ and ‘Whose’

Why do we use apostrophes to show possession?

Is it 'nerve-racking' or 'nerve-wracking'?

What's the difference between 'fascism' and 'socialism'?
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

Back to School Vocabulary

Words from the 'Odyssey'

Ye Olde Nincompoop: Old-Fashioned Words for 'Stupid'

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of
See More

Popular

See More

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

Back to School Vocabulary
See More

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
The Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
anagrams on a chalk board
Word Builder Quiz Vol. 2 Pick the letter that when added to a word will ma...
See All