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

The ballot measure has splintered California Democrats and their allies, who are at odds over which public services would receive a portion of the revenue and Proposition 40’s long-term impact on the state budget. — Los Angeles Times, 18 Aug. 2026 Alliances are splintering, and not just Western ones; consider the disarray in the Gulf Cooperation Council. — Mark Leonard, Foreign Affairs, 18 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for splinter

Recent Examples of Synonyms for splinter

Noun

For decades, electronic chips have powered almost every digital device around us, from smartphones and computers to the servers running artificial intelligence.

— Kaif Shaikh, Interesting Engineering, 5 Sep. 2026
The deal also helps Nvidia hedge against hyperscalers' custom chips.

— Alexa LoMonaco, CNBC, 5 Sep. 2026

Definition of chip

Verb

Eli White, starting for the third straight game in place of Rafaela, promptly sliced a single to left, scoring the first two runs.

— Jen McCaffrey, New York Times, 6 Sep. 2026
Shingle ½ small crisp apple (such as Fuji or Gala), very thinly sliced, over cheese, then top with shallots.

— Rebecca Firkser, Bon Appetit Magazine, 3 Sep. 2026

Definition of slice

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

Deficit turnaround Meloni inherited an Italy that was politically divided and fraught with fiscal problems.

— Jenni Reid,Chloe Taylor, CNBC, 5 Sep. 2026
The open-plan, curvilinear design means the galleries are not fully divided, reinforcing the all-encompassing nature of the collection, though altogether the vast array of exhibits sometimes struggle for cohesiveness.

— Jacqui Palumbo, CNN Money, 5 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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Cite this Entry

Style

“Splinter.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/splinter. Accessed 18 Sep. 2026.

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Synonyms of splinter

noun

verb

Example Sentences

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