fragment 1 of 2

verb

ˈfrag-ˌment How to pronounce fragment (audio)
Definition of fragmentnext
as in to disrupt
to cause to separate into pieces usually suddenly or forcibly you can fragment that peanut brittle easily, but how it breaks is basically up to the brittle

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

fragment

2 of 2

noun

ˈfrag-mənt How to pronounce fragment (audio)
as in piece
a broken or irregular part of something that often remains incomplete charred fragments of the exploded rocket were scattered over a huge area of ground

Synonyms & Similar Words

Synonym Chooser

How is the word fragment distinct from other similar nouns?

Some common synonyms of fragment are division, member, part, piece, portion, section, and segment. While all these words mean "something less than the whole," fragment applies to a part produced by or as if by breaking off.

only a fragment of the play still exists

When would division be a good substitute for fragment?

The meanings of division and fragment largely overlap; however, division applies to a large or diversified part.

the manufacturing division of the company

When is it sensible to use member instead of fragment?

While the synonyms member and fragment are close in meaning, member suggests one of the functional units composing a body.

a structural member

Where would part be a reasonable alternative to fragment?

The words part and fragment are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, part is a general term appropriate when indefiniteness is required.

they ran only part of the way

When can piece be used instead of fragment?

In some situations, the words piece and fragment are roughly equivalent. However, piece applies to a separate or detached part of a whole.

a puzzle with 500 pieces

When could portion be used to replace fragment?

Although the words portion and fragment have much in common, portion implies an assigned or allotted part.

cut the pie into six portions

When is section a more appropriate choice than fragment?

The synonyms section and fragment are sometimes interchangeable, but section applies to a relatively small or uniform part.

the entertainment section of the newspaper

When might segment be a better fit than fragment?

While in some cases nearly identical to fragment, segment applies to a part separated or marked out by or as if by natural lines of cleavage.

the retired segment of the population

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 fragment
Verb
The hispanic and Latino demography of South Florida means support is fragmented. —James Horncastle, New York Times, 28 June 2025 Bookings are often fragmented across cities, suppliers and regions. —Amiad Solomon, Forbes.com, 26 June 2025
Noun
Once the frame is full of the attached coral fragments, at another time, the marine biologist will dive and put the frame into the water at a depth of about 16 to 26 feet. —Jeanine Barone, Forbes.com, 8 July 2025 In 1918: An 18-year-old Ernest Hemingway was struck and wounded by fragments from an Austrian mine shell while serving as an ambulance driver for the American Red Cross during World War I. —Lorenzino Estrada, AZCentral.com, 8 July 2025 See All Example Sentences for fragment
Recent Examples of Synonyms for fragment
  1. disrupt
  2. piece
  3. fracture
  4. fraction
  5. break
  6. bit
  7. disintegrate
  8. scrap
Verb
  • The industry’s year of strikes in 2023 also disrupted the flow of Hollywood movie releases to the local multiplex.
    — Etan Vlessing, HollywoodReporter, 11 July 2025
  • Frequent use can disrupt normal bowel function and lead to laxative dependence or chronic constipation.7 Only use castor oil under medical guidance.
    — Lindsay Curtis, Verywell Health, 11 July 2025
Definition of disrupt
Noun
  • Mazzoli created a lush score that was alternately sweeping or intimate, sensuous or mystical, yet with a distinctive sound that was her own weaving a thread through the piece.
    — Janelle Gelfand, Cincinnati.com, 19 July 2017
  • This is why the war stories of Tom Clancy are such convincing and moving pieces of fiction.
    — Janine Barchas, Washington Post, 18 July 2017
Definition of piece
Verb
  • Fast forward to July and Cabrera is likely out for the year after fracturing his ankle and posting numbers below league average.
    — Gary Phillips, New York Daily News, 2 July 2025
  • However, leaders with corporate psychopathic tendencies may drive distrust and fracture the organization.
    — Shawn Cole, Forbes.com, 27 June 2025
Definition of fracture
Noun
  • Amazon The Amazon Echo Dot (5th Gen) looks like the regular Echo, but miniaturized to be a fraction of the size.
    — Simon Hill, Wired News, 10 July 2025
  • Flossy’s virtual assistant, Fiona, significantly reduces operational expenses, performing 24/7 duties at a fraction of human staffing costs.
    — Jaime Catmull, Forbes.com, 10 July 2025
Definition of fraction
Verb
  • At the time, Anduril was a startup with twenty-five employees, hoping to break into the defense business.
    — Dexter Filkins, New Yorker, 14 July 2025
  • But an injury put an end to that impressive string of games, as Jovic broke his right hand on Feb. 23 and missed the final 27 games of last regular season.
    — Miami Herald, Miami Herald, 14 July 2025
Definition of break
Noun
  • These particles include tiny bits of pollution from engines, heating systems, wildfires, and industrial activity But 2023 was a cautionary tale: wildfire smoke pushed the annual average back up to 8.7, a level not seen since the previous decade.
    — Youssef Rafik, Hartford Courant, 12 July 2025
  • The bit sees Mister Terrific (Edi Gathegi) getting frustrated with the Man of Steel for pointing out that a building in Metropolis looks eschewed.
    — EW.com, EW.com, 12 July 2025
Definition of bit
Verb
  • Organic materials like wood, leather, and fabric — which often remain remarkably preserved in the cold, low-oxygen depths — can begin to warp, crumble or disintegrate as dormant bacteria and fungi reactivate.
    — Jordan Runtagh, People.com, 6 July 2025
  • Researchers think the deceased was buried in a wooden coffin that has long since disintegrated.
    — Sonja Anderson, Smithsonian Magazine, 3 July 2025
Definition of disintegrate
Noun
  • Kimmel said the country has an oversupply domestically of scrap metal, if U.S. companies cannot export.
    — Susan Tompor, Freep.com, 3 July 2025
  • That technical change increases the likelihood that a congregation of a tumbledown church might raise the money to unlock more housing and at the same time fix up their building — without simply selling it for scrap.
    — Justin Davidson, Curbed, 27 June 2025
Definition of scrap

Browse Nearby Words

fragility
fragment
fragmental
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Fragment.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/fragment. Accessed 18 Jul. 2025.

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