splinter 1 of 2

Definition of splinternext

splinter

2 of 2

verb

1
as in to slice
to cut into long slender pieces He splintered the carrots into little sticks.

Synonyms & Similar Words

2
as in to split
to cause (people) to break up into opposing groups The board splintered as soon as the most contentious issues came up for discussion.

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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 splinter
Noun
After cutting and trimming any splinters, place the stakes behind the trellis. Elizabeth Fogarty, Better Homes & Gardens, 21 Oct. 2025 The revelation felt like a splinter that lodged itself in Kai’s heart. Johnny Dodd, PEOPLE, 11 Oct. 2025
Verb
Plus, wooden tools and handles might crack, splinter, and break if exposed to excess moisture. Claire Hoppe Norgaard, Better Homes & Gardens, 15 Jan. 2026 That’s peak holiday season, a time for family to gather, not to splinter. Daniel De Visé, USA Today, 14 Jan. 2026 See All Example Sentences for splinter
Recent Examples of Synonyms for splinter
Noun
  • The company laid off 50,000 people in 1993, when chip technology evolved and the tech industry moved away from large mainframe computers.
    Lisa Eadicicco, CNN Money, 31 Jan. 2026
  • The combination of power grids, advanced chips and the continual growth of data centers worldwide proves that AI is now a physical, capital-intensive force reshaping and deciding which economies and geopolitical players will win the next decade and beyond.
    Mark Minevich, Forbes.com, 30 Jan. 2026
Verb
  • Add 1 large white onion, thinly sliced through root end, 6 garlic cloves, coarsely chopped, and a large pinch of kosher salt and cook, stirring occasionally, until onion is translucent, 6–8 minutes.
    Shilpa Uskokovic, Bon Appetit Magazine, 27 Jan. 2026
  • The argument spilled onto Wharton Street, where Hennen was accused of slicing the player's neck.
    Andy Sheehan, CBS News, 26 Jan. 2026
Verb
  • White Sox General Manager Chris Getz said Sandlin, a 24-year-old righty who split time last year in Triple-A and Double-A, will compete for a spot in the rotation at spring training.
    Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 2 Feb. 2026
  • The Riverside County sheriff, a conservative Republican, leads recent California governor’s race polls as eight Democratic candidates split the left’s votes, a trend Matt Mahan’s entry could amplify.
    Bay Area News Group, Mercury News, 1 Feb. 2026
Noun
  • Elevating the area can also sharpen the contours of the philtrum and reveal a sliver of incisors when the lips are gently parted.
    Jolene Edgar, Allure, 27 Jan. 2026
  • Roseberry has the right instinct in looking to express that while aiming to find slivers of joy, too.
    José Criales-Unzueta, Vanity Fair, 26 Jan. 2026
Verb
  • Add 5 garlic cloves, finely chopped, and 2 small sprigs thyme, leaves picked, and cook, stirring often, until radicchio is softened and wilted, 5–8 minutes.
    Shilpa Uskokovic, Bon Appetit Magazine, 27 Jan. 2026
  • This would be chopped, as the kids say.
    Josh Brown,Sean Russo, CNBC, 26 Jan. 2026
Verb
  • The federal government included Niscemi in a state of emergency declaration on Monday for three southern regions hard hit by Cyclone Harry and set aside an initial $120 million to be divided among them.
    Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 29 Jan. 2026
  • In moments of crisis—when communities are grieving, divided, or searching for ways to care for one another—nonprofits stand on the front lines, holding our social fabric together through connection, healing, and support.
    Cat Ward, Forbes.com, 29 Jan. 2026
Noun
  • This is also why disabusing new believers of such opinions can feel like plucking shell fragments from a cooking omelet.
    Emil Steiner, Forbes.com, 30 Jan. 2026
  • Days later, Padilla Vélez suffered a catastrophic stroke caused by a bullet fragment and died, according to the outlets.
    Sophia Compton, FOXNews.com, 30 Jan. 2026
Noun
  • The being’s power is broken into 16 shards, which are then spread out throughout many worlds by the conspirators, spreading many kinds of magic across the universe.
    Borys Kit, HollywoodReporter, 28 Jan. 2026
  • When the shards of symbolic celebration shatter, they are often left to navigate the jagged realities of structural and institutional neglect.
    Jallicia Jolly, Forbes.com, 24 Jan. 2026

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Splinter.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/splinter. Accessed 3 Feb. 2026.

More from Merriam-Webster on splinter

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!