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
Maria Azzurra Volpe, MSNBC Newsweek, 31 Mar. 2026
Their performance is stoking a rising sense of anxiety among Democrats as their vote splinters among a field of eight contenders, with the head of the state party calling on low-polling candidates to quit by April 15.
—Bloomberg, Mercury News, 27 Mar. 2026
Alex Weprin, HollywoodReporter, 14 Apr. 2026
Be careful with it on decks, where the blast of water can splinter wooden planks or pull up nails.
—Miami Herald, 13 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for splinter
Noun
Injuries range from mouth splinters and choking to bowel blockages, eye damage, wounds, infections, or even sticks penetrating the body; vets have treated severe cases, some fatal.
—Maria Azzurra Volpe, MSNBC Newsweek, 31 Mar. 2026
Their performance is stoking a rising sense of anxiety among Democrats as their vote splinters among a field of eight contenders, with the head of the state party calling on low-polling candidates to quit by April 15.
—Bloomberg, Mercury News, 27 Mar. 2026
Verb
The party scene, meanwhile, has splintered accordingly.
—Alex Weprin, HollywoodReporter, 14 Apr. 2026
Be careful with it on decks, where the blast of water can splinter wooden planks or pull up nails.
—Miami Herald, 13 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for splinter
Recent Examples of Synonyms for splinter
Noun
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Nvidia has cemented itself at the heart of the AI boom with a monopoly on the most powerful chips to train and run models, but a growing crop of startups are set on challenging the company's supremacy.—
Kai Nicol-Schwarz,
CNBC,
17 Apr. 2026
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Little Debbie says the chocolate chip cookie features a light golden-brown finish and semi-sweet chocolate chips, while the peanut butter cookie is formulated with real peanut butter.—
Gabe Hauari,
USA Today,
17 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Kahan is from the Upper Valley, a quaint and seasonally verdant region encompassing parts of eastern Vermont and western New Hampshire, and sliced through by the Connecticut River—a scenic haven for canoers and for anglers chasing trout.—
Amanda Petrusich,
New Yorker,
13 Apr. 2026
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Machete in hand, Gamaliel Camarena sliced the back of a man who managed to escape by ducking into a donut shop and barring the door.—
Tony Saavedra,
Oc Register,
12 Apr. 2026
Verb
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In this game, a Proposer is given a sum of money and invited to choose in what proportion to split it with a Receiver.—
Nikhil Krishnan,
New Yorker,
20 Apr. 2026
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What is the fairest way to split the cash?—
Jack Murtagh,
Scientific American,
19 Apr. 2026
Noun
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That's just a sliver of an industry that counts some 450 watchmakers in Switzerland alone.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
14 Apr. 2026
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This original nugget is now reduced to a sliver, residing in the Privy Purse Office.—
Bailey Bujnosek,
InStyle,
12 Apr. 2026
Verb
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The seeds and surrounding juices inside uncooked tomatoes can be slightly bitter and astringent, so squeeze them out before chopping the flesh (this also prevents the sauce from getting too watery).—
Claire Saffitz,
Bon Appetit Magazine,
13 Apr. 2026
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With the score tied at 4-4 and one out in Saturday’s game, Tampa Bay Rays first baseman Jonathan Aranda chopped a grounder to Chisholm.—
Chris Kirschner,
New York Times,
12 Apr. 2026
Verb
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The proposal was to close the Churchill Avenue crossing, which is right next to Palo Alto High School, but the community is divided on what is the best way to protect kids.—
Andrea Nakano,
CBS News,
16 Apr. 2026
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Israel and Lebanon have technically been at war since Israel was established in 1948, and Lebanon remains deeply divided over diplomatic engagement with Israel.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
16 Apr. 2026
Noun
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Another passerby suffered a minor injury after being struck with a bullet fragment that struck a wall.—
Thomas Tracy,
New York Daily News,
11 Apr. 2026
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During past close approaches with the Sun, Phaethon released vast amounts of dust and larger fragments.—
Patrick M. Shober,
The Conversation,
10 Apr. 2026
Noun
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Along with another Gelfling, Kira (voiced by Lisa Maxwell), Jen is tasked with retrieving a shard of the crystal within three days to prevent the Skeksis from ruling Thra forever.—
David Faris,
TheWeek,
16 Apr. 2026
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Hussaini assembles the shards of her home city of Kabul into a mosaic, honoring its history, culture, and future.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
15 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Splinter.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/splinter. Accessed 20 Apr. 2026.
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