as in chip
a small flat piece separated from a whole
she got a splinter from the unfinished wall
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
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
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
Alice Gibbs, MSNBC Newsweek, 14 May 2025
Anyone who has suffered the indignity of splinter, a blister, or a paper cut knows that small things can sometimes be hugely annoying.
—Ars Technica, 21 Mar. 2025
Olivia B. Waxman, Time, 4 Aug. 2025
With regulations splintering, a vendor’s risk profile in California might differ starkly from its standing in Germany.
—Pukar Hamal, Forbes.com, 1 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for splinter
Noun
Sticks can cause a range of injuries, from splinters in the gums to serious puncture wounds to the mouth, throat, or even chest.
—Alice Gibbs, MSNBC Newsweek, 14 May 2025
Anyone who has suffered the indignity of splinter, a blister, or a paper cut knows that small things can sometimes be hugely annoying.
—Ars Technica, 21 Mar. 2025
Verb
Windows shattered and splintered across the classroom desks and chairs.
—Olivia B. Waxman, Time, 4 Aug. 2025
With regulations splintering, a vendor’s risk profile in California might differ starkly from its standing in Germany.
—Pukar Hamal, Forbes.com, 1 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for splinter
Recent Examples of Synonyms for splinter
Noun
-
The time to devour infinite onion rings and chips and salsa with your hot wings is now.—
Anthony Robledo,
USA Today,
20 Aug. 2025
-
Scheffler’s chip from off the green on 17 has been replayed more than any other shot of this year’s tour.—
Dennis Esser,
New York Times,
20 Aug. 2025
Verb
-
Whole-grain toast with peanut butter and sliced bananas is loaded with nutrients and feels like a satisfying snack.—
Carrie Madormo,
Verywell Health,
21 Aug. 2025
-
The men started throwing punches, and then Louis sliced the victim in the neck, according to Tabasi.—
Julian Roberts-Grmela,
New York Daily News,
21 Aug. 2025
Verb
-
The two officially split in July, ending a six-year engagement and nine-year partnership.—
Bryan West,
The Tennessean,
21 Aug. 2025
-
The two battling for the spot will now be splitting time in the Tigers’ season opener in Columbia when FCS Central Arkansas comes to town on Thursday, August 28.—
Maddie Hartley,
Kansas City Star,
20 Aug. 2025
Noun
-
In 2024, a staggering 97% of all sports wagers in Indiana were made through digital platforms, leaving retail casinos with only a sliver of the market.—
Ethan Hylton,
IndyStar,
20 Aug. 2025
-
There’s a sliver of hope, however, for the return of monsoon conditions at the end of August — or at least some cloud cover.—
Elise Schmelzer,
Denver Post,
15 Aug. 2025
Verb
-
Tip: To make tomato simple syrup, roughly chop 1/2 large heirloom tomato, and add to a saucepan along with 1/2 cup sugar and 1/2 teaspoon flaky salt.—
The New York Times News Service Syndicate,
Denver Post,
19 Aug. 2025
-
Mix it with fresh fruit, chopped nuts, and a drizzle of honey for a cottage cheese parfait. 14.—
Barbie Cervoni,
Verywell Health,
19 Aug. 2025
Verb
-
Focused on expanding their notorious drug and money laundering organization outside of Detroit, their strained relationship has left the brothers divided.—
Giana Levy,
Variety,
16 Aug. 2025
-
Spence and his wife, Imaging, divided their time between Wyoming and California before selling their place in Jackson Hole about four years ago.—
Nino Paoli,
Fortune,
15 Aug. 2025
Noun
-
Two algorithms then went to work: one assembling the fragments into complete molecular structures, the other predicting which of those structures would pack the strongest antibacterial punch.—
IEEE Spectrum,
IEEE Spectrum,
14 Aug. 2025
-
For me, the early hours offer clarity before the day fragments.—
Marian Evans,
Forbes.com,
11 Aug. 2025
Noun
-
For a 2001 collection, Alexander McQueen created a scaly bodice out of glass microscope slides painted blood red, then paired it with an exuberant skirt of dyed red-and-black ostrich plumes, contrasting the brittle, angular shards with the soft, floating feathers.—
Kimberly Chrisman-Campbell,
Smithsonian Magazine,
22 July 2025
-
These recalls were issued over concerns of clear plastic shards within products, allergy mislabeling and possible listeria monocytogenes contamination.—
Suzanne Blake
Jason Lemon,
MSNBC Newsweek,
17 July 2025
Cite this Entry
“Splinter.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/splinter. Accessed 30 Aug. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share