SPLINTER Synonyms: 65 Similar and Opposite Words

splinter 1 of 2

noun

ˈsplin-tər

Definition of splinter

as in chip

a small flat piece separated from a whole she got a splinter from the unfinished wall

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

splinter

2 of 2

verb

as in to slice

to cut into long slender pieces He splintered the carrots into little sticks.

Synonyms & Similar Words

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.

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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

Legend has it this imperative caused the park’s architect, William Russell Everitt, to smash the original model to splinters with a baseball bat. — John Metcalfe, Mercury News, 13 July 2026 Congress can swing the axe but taxpayers pick up the splinters. — Andrew Leahey, Forbes.com, 29 June 2026

Verb

Dramatic video footage from Long Beach shows massive waves slamming into the shoreline and splintering the wood on the boardwalk. — Rosanna Xia, Los Angeles Times, 7 Sep. 2026 The internet did splinter 20th-century mass culture, and the effects have been every bit as revolutionary as promised. — Jake Lundberg, The Atlantic, 3 Sep. 2026 See All Example Sentences for splinter

Recent Examples of Synonyms for splinter

Noun

However, that does not mean China has demonstrated a production-ready sub-3nm chip.

— Bojan Stojkovski, Interesting Engineering, 19 Sep. 2026
Serve with tortilla chips and ensure plates are available because all of the layers won’t fit on one chip.

— Kaitlyn Yarborough, Southern Living, 19 Sep. 2026

Definition of chip

Verb

Vimeo is launching its second annual Short Film Grant Program, doubling last year’s prize pool to $300,000 to be split among five emerging filmmakers.

— Tanya Fedak, Variety, 14 Sep. 2026
Upon hitting South America, the Kelvin wave splits into two, one heading north, toward California, and the other heading south.

— Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 14 Sep. 2026

Definition of split

Noun

Among them is Dugi Otok, said Mark Palmer in The Times – a verdant, 26-mile-long sliver of limestone that lies an easy ferry ride from the fascinating harbour town of Zadar.

— The Week UK, TheWeek, 6 Sep. 2026
The play was a microcosm of the ability Harvey showcased during his rookie season to turn small slivers of space into big plays.

— Nick Kosmider, New York Times, 4 Sep. 2026

Definition of sliver

Verb

Santoku knives are great for a large variety of tasks, and are often prized for their daily use for things like slicing cheese, cutting an apple, breaking down an onion, or chopping herbs.

— Jesse Raub, Bon Appetit Magazine, 14 Sep. 2026
Rock is not grinding axes so much as swinging them wildly, trying to chop and wound as many targets as possible.

— David Fear, Rolling Stone, 13 Sep. 2026

Definition of chop

Verb

Leftover produce, meat and pantry items were divided into items that could be used next week and what could go home with staff.

— Leah Asmelash, CNN Money, 19 Sep. 2026
But Californians are narrowly divided on the wealth tax, and passage could come down to the wire when voters cast ballots in November.

— Jason Ma, Fortune, 19 Sep. 2026

Definition of divide

Noun

Among the most destructive munitions in Western military arsenals, an MK-84 explosion sends metal fragments in every direction for thousands of feet, can rip through metal and thick concrete, and often creates large craters in the earth.

— Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 16 Sep. 2026
Taken together, these masterworks mirror Prieto’s own process, which often uses chance as a springboard for composition and which harnesses ephemera — memories, scents, poems, or even architectural fragments — to create new work.

— Jill Singer, Curbed, 14 Sep. 2026

Definition of fragment

Noun

Smoke continued to rise from the twisted shards of metal, while the remains of the World Trade Center smoldered in a massive pile.

— Sophia Leone, FOXNews.com, 10 Sep. 2026
Once the drop trap — a simple wire cage triggered by yanking on a cord — is set up with an enticing mix of sardines and shards of roast chicken on a cardboard tray inside, everyone moves out of sight behind massive logs a few yards away.

— Adam Tschorn, Los Angeles Times, 8 Sep. 2026

Definition of shard

Browse Nearby Words

splint

splinter

splintered

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“Splinter.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/splinter. Accessed 20 Sep. 2026.

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Synonyms of splinter

noun

verb

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