Synonyms of splinter

splinter 1 of 2

noun

ˈsplin-tər 

as in chip

a small flat piece separated from a whole

she got a splinter from the unfinished wall

Synonyms & Similar Words

• chip
• sliver
• fragment
• shard
• flake
• splint
• spall
• shred
• sheet
• scrap
• bit
• disk
• part
• particle
• section
• leaf
• portion
• slice
• shiver
• clipping
• shave
• shaving
• smithereens
• paring
• tatter
• flinders
• snippet

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• slab
• lump
• chunk
• hunk

splinter

2 of 2

verb

1

as in to slice

to cut into long slender pieces

He splintered the carrots into little sticks.

Synonyms & Similar Words

• slice
• chop
• split
• sliver
• chip
• dice
• cleave
• scissor
• hash
• mince
• rip
• slit
• slash
• gash
• rive
• julienne
• incise
• saw

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

• split
• divide
• polarize
• separate
• fragment
• fracture
• alienate
• estrange
• antagonize
• disaffect
• embitter
• disgruntle

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• unite
• unify
• reconcile
• coalesce
• harmonize
• consolidate
• concentrate
• conciliate

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of splinter

Noun

Safeguards the wood against UV radiation so that the deck doesn't fade, split, splinter, peel, or dry out as quickly as an unprotected deck. — Timothy Dale, The Spruce, 29 May 2026

But as the season neared the winter transfer window, the expectation was for Mainoo to leave on loan rather than continue to pick up splinters on the bench. — Carl Anka, New York Times, 26 May 2026

Verb

Whole trees, the size of a man’s leg, had been bent and splintered to the ground. — Frank C. Hibben, Outdoor Life, 15 July 2026

Relations further splintered in the fallout of the Iran war—a military operation Sánchez has repeatedly denounced. — Tiago Ventura, Time, 9 July 2026