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
Josh Rottenberg, Twin Cities, 31 Dec. 2025
The paper also prevents wear and tear on the wood surface and keeps small splinters from snagging delicate clothing.
—Karen Brewer Grossman, Southern Living, 25 Dec. 2025
Arthur I. Cyr, Chicago Tribune, 3 Mar. 2026
With nine top Democrats running, the fear is that the candidates will splinter their party’s vote and allow the top two Republicans in the race to finish in first and second place.
—Seema Mehta, Los Angeles Times, 3 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for splinter
Noun
Jeff Clanagan painted a picture of a landscape in which movie stardom is no longer protected by traditional channels, as attention splinters across platforms and audiences fragment.
—Josh Rottenberg, Twin Cities, 31 Dec. 2025
The paper also prevents wear and tear on the wood surface and keeps small splinters from snagging delicate clothing.
—Karen Brewer Grossman, Southern Living, 25 Dec. 2025
Verb
Brexit, the agonizing effort to break free of the controversial European Union, splintered the governing Conservative Party and then divided the Labour Party as well.
—Arthur I. Cyr, Chicago Tribune, 3 Mar. 2026
With nine top Democrats running, the fear is that the candidates will splinter their party’s vote and allow the top two Republicans in the race to finish in first and second place.
—Seema Mehta, Los Angeles Times, 3 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for splinter
Recent Examples of Synonyms for splinter
Noun
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The prototype combines a pump, valves, and a microfluidic chip into a device roughly the size and weight of a smartphone.—
Neetika Walter,
Interesting Engineering,
21 Mar. 2026
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The latest iPad model has Apple’s older A16 processor inside, whereas the MacBook Neo uses the more advanced A18 Pro chip, previously exclusive to the 2024 iPhone Pro models.—
PC Magazine,
PC Magazine,
20 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Friday's high winds also left their mark on a baseball field in West Deer Township after a tree practically sliced a concession stand in two.—
Megan Shinn,
CBS News,
16 Mar. 2026
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Or if a finger was so sliced open that the bone protruded.—
Kansas City Star,
Kansas City Star,
15 Mar. 2026
Verb
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The 85th Academy Awards in 2013 is the last time two nominees split a category.—
Erin Jensen,
USA Today,
16 Mar. 2026
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After Aaron Gordon split a pair of free throws, Jones and Cam Johnson successfully executed the foul-up-three strategy on consecutive Laker possessions, only for the free throw to go awry.—
Bennett Durando,
Denver Post,
15 Mar. 2026
Noun
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The camera pans across the humble audience to find everyday faces of Latinos and others for whom his victory could represent a sliver of vindication amid constant persecution.—
Carlos Aguilar,
Variety,
18 Mar. 2026
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These rates make refinancing now only beneficial for a small sliver of homeowners.—
Matt Richardson,
CBS News,
17 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Handy kitchen gadgets are among the best deals to grab right now, including this best-selling vegetable chopper that makes quick work of dicing, chopping, and prepping ingredients for your next meal.—
Alicia Geigel,
Southern Living,
16 Mar. 2026
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Cover and process until very finely chopped.—
Jessica Saari Christensen,
Better Homes & Gardens,
16 Mar. 2026
Verb
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How iftar dinner helps bridge divides Latif leads the Islamic Center of New York City, where volunteers recently prepared an evening iftar meal of chicken and rice and dates.—
Brian Mann,
NPR,
18 Mar. 2026
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The polling percentage was determined by the most recent Public Policy Institute of California survey, and the fundraising component took the total amount raised divided by the number of days a candidate was in the race.—
Kaitlyn Schallhorn,
Oc Register,
18 Mar. 2026
Noun
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About two and a half miles off the coast, a scattering of amphorae in shallow waters served as a trail for archaeologists, leading them to cargo fragments, ship fittings, and ultimately, the wreckage.—
Maria Mocerino,
Interesting Engineering,
14 Mar. 2026
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This is nothing if not a film of fragments, alternately raucous and off-target.—
Guy Lodge,
Variety,
14 Mar. 2026
Noun
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The team pulled it out and dropped the shard into a tray.—
Blake Nelson,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
15 Mar. 2026
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Cut into individual pieces or break into rustic shards.—
Marianne Williams,
Southern Living,
14 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Splinter.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/splinter. Accessed 21 Mar. 2026.
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