as in chip
a small flat piece separated from a whole
she got a splinter from the unfinished wall
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
1
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
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Recent Examples of splinter
Tom O'Connor, MSNBC Newsweek, 14 Nov. 2025
The leader of the Jamaat-ul-Ahrar group, a splinter faction of the Pakistani Taliban or Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), claimed responsibility for the attack, according to the Associated Press, although another commander from the group denied association with the attack.
—Miranda Jeyaretnam, Time, 12 Nov. 2025
Caitlin Danaher, CNN Money, 6 Feb. 2026
Owens said that one of Kansas City’s major problems is that the community-wide approach to helping homeless people is currently splintered.
—Eric Adler, Kansas City Star, 6 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for splinter
Noun
Clashes between Islamist militants have become a central feature of the conflict wreaking havoc across the Sahel and West Africa, including in Nigeria, where Boko Haram has engaged in frequent battles with a splinter faction aligned with ISIS' Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP).
—Tom O'Connor, MSNBC Newsweek, 14 Nov. 2025
The leader of the Jamaat-ul-Ahrar group, a splinter faction of the Pakistani Taliban or Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), claimed responsibility for the attack, according to the Associated Press, although another commander from the group denied association with the attack.
—Miranda Jeyaretnam, Time, 12 Nov. 2025
Verb
Trump’s demands for the vast, autonomous Arctic territory ruled by Denmark, a NATO country, had threatened to upend Western unity, and splinter the military alliance.
—Caitlin Danaher, CNN Money, 6 Feb. 2026
Owens said that one of Kansas City’s major problems is that the community-wide approach to helping homeless people is currently splintered.
—Eric Adler, Kansas City Star, 6 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for splinter
Recent Examples of Synonyms for splinter
Noun
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In theory, energetic particles pass through such thin sheets without creating the kinds of defects that typically cripple conventional silicon chips.—
Rupendra Brahambhatt,
Interesting Engineering,
21 Feb. 2026
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In Delhi, there was a growing awareness by middle powers of the need to build their own AI capability — whether in training their own models, designing their own chips, or extricating themselves from the convenient but risky grip of Silicon Valley software giants.—
Billy Perrigo,
Time,
20 Feb. 2026
Verb
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Polish skater Kamila Sellier was taken off the ice on a stretcher after a blade from a competitor's skate sliced her face above the left eye in a sudden crash.—
Wesley Stenzel,
Entertainment Weekly,
21 Feb. 2026
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Top each serving with black olives, diced avocado, and sliced green onions.—
Sarah Martens,
Better Homes & Gardens,
21 Feb. 2026
Verb
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Bridgeman pocketed $4 million on Sunday while Sepp Straka and Brian Harman split the last-place share of $51,000.—
Steve Galluzzo,
Los Angeles Times,
23 Feb. 2026
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For this service they were allegedly paid $60,000 to split among themselves.—
Flint McColgan,
Boston Herald,
22 Feb. 2026
Noun
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In an Instagram Story shared on February 25, Ratajkowski struck up a pose in what appeared to be a hotel-style bathrobe, leaving it open to show off a sliver of bare skin running down her entire torso.—
Lara Walsh,
InStyle,
25 Feb. 2026
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The refinery is very busy these days because of the high price of gold, sliver and other precious metals, which has people turning their metal to cash.—
Roxana Popescu,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
25 Feb. 2026
Verb
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The skiing, sledding with the kids, chopping firewood for the wood stove in the basement—some of my favorite adventures have been set to a snowy backdrop.—
Graham Averill,
Outside,
23 Feb. 2026
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Crushing or chopping garlic activates allicin, its key compound, and fresh ginger provides gingerol.—
Heather Jones,
Verywell Health,
23 Feb. 2026
Verb
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Senate Republicans are sharply divided over how to pursue the SAVE America Act voter ID and citizenship bill.—
Burgess Everett,
semafor.com,
26 Feb. 2026
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In the poll, nearly all respondents (91%) said the state’s budget situation was somewhat of a problem, though they were divided on how to close the gap, with 43% for spending cuts and 39% through a mix of cuts and tax increases.—
Grace Hase,
Mercury News,
26 Feb. 2026
Noun
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In the absence of mandatory reporting rules, she and other doctors are often left to rely on rumors, their grapevines of colleagues, and the fragments of information the state public health agency is able to gather and willing to share.—
Jennifer Berry Hawes,
CNN Money,
21 Feb. 2026
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One of the 6th-century burials had been placed in a log coffin, Birch said — and although most of the remains did not survive, a soil stain marked where it had been laid, along with a few cranial fragments.—
Andrea Margolis,
FOXNews.com,
20 Feb. 2026
Noun
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Jagged shards of memory shown in flashbacks suggest Laura’s fear and vulnerability as a young girl (played by the filmmakers’ daughter Eliz Mundruczó), alongside indications of narcissistic, at times violent Ivan’s shortcomings as a parent.—
David Rooney,
HollywoodReporter,
16 Feb. 2026
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After placing a clay shard over the drainage hole in each pot, Ryan fills them with the soil mix, adding enough to reach just below the top rim of the pot.—
Michele Laufik,
Martha Stewart,
10 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Splinter.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/splinter. Accessed 27 Feb. 2026.
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