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

Synonyms & Similar Words

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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.

Synonyms & Similar Words

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

Townshend’s cynicism proved prescient as the generation that marched, occupied, and dropped out in the late 1960s spent the 1970s watching the New Left splinter. — Nick Lichtenberg, Fortune, 10 Aug. 2026 Designed for patios, balconies, porches, pool decks, and walkways that could use a little TLC, the 12-inch tiles are waterproof, splinter-free, and bring the warmth of real wood to an outdoor space on a budget. — Better Homes & Gardens, 31 July 2026

Verb

Streamers, after years of growth, are facing fresh pressure from the public and from government officials, as prices continue to rise and with programming splintered across so many platforms. — Alex Weprin, HollywoodReporter, 14 Sep. 2026 The Brussels governing system is notoriously splintered along linguistic communities, which is one reason the Brussels-Capital Region failed to form a new government between June 2024 and February 2026. — Devorah Lauter, ARTnews.com, 10 Sep. 2026 See All Example Sentences for splinter

Recent Examples of Synonyms for splinter

Noun

Hundreds of billions of dollars have been poured into the buildout, and not just into AI labs and models, but data centers, semiconductor chips, and so on.

— Yerbol Orynbayev, Fortune, 3 Oct. 2026
What’s behind the electronics activity is rising gas intensity of more complex chips used in the AI boom.

— Jeff Marks, CNBC, 2 Oct. 2026

Definition of chip

Verb

After 24 hours, cut the roast in half and slice as thinly as possible using a deli slicer or electric knife.

— ABC News, ABC News, 2 Oct. 2026
My plastic fork sliced right through the fluffy, dessert-like dish after topping it off with some syrup, and the taste wasn’t too far off from the ones back home.

— Evan Moore, Charlotte Observer, 29 Sep. 2026

Definition of slice

Verb

This natural process splits water molecules and steadily produces pure hydrogen gas within the surrounding rock formations.

— Mrigakshi Dixit, Interesting Engineering, 29 Sep. 2026
The two began dating in 2021 following Giancola’s split from ex-fiancé Christian Biscardi.

— Stephanie Sengwe, PEOPLE, 28 Sep. 2026

Definition of split

Verb

Bryan pushed back at the time, arguing that the song spoke to both sides of the aisle and urging fans not to let social media narratives divide them.

— Jessica Lynch, Billboard, 3 Oct. 2026
Although the studio holds out hope that awards buzz could help the film have some legs as audiences discover it, critics have been divided, with Digger holding a 51 percent approval from reviewers on Rotten Tomatoes.

— Ryan Gajewski, HollywoodReporter, 3 Oct. 2026

Definition of divide

Noun

Hanging from a gantry erected in the interior courtyard of the palazzo, tire fragments are threaded together and reassembled into hulking blasting mats.

— Tina M. Campt, Artforum, 1 Oct. 2026
As attention fragments across endless feeds and screens, the moments people choose to show up for in person have become some of the most valuable in media.

— William Earl, Variety, 29 Sep. 2026

Definition of fragment

Noun

Students sitting with arms linked at the elbows could only see in shards through a picket of shin guards, restricting their view of the area where classmates and roommates were dragged one by one and zip-tied face down on the spring grass.

— Sophie Landres, Artforum, 1 Oct. 2026
Windows had been boarded up to avoid glass shards hurting anyone in case of an explosion.

— ABC News, ABC News, 27 Sep. 2026

Definition of shard

Browse Nearby Words

splint

splinter

splintered

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Style

“Splinter.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/splinter. Accessed 4 Oct. 2026.

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Synonyms of splinter

noun

verb

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