splinter

[splin-ter]

noun

1. a small, thin, sharp piece of wood, bone, or the like, split or broken off from the main body.

   Synonyms: sliver

2. splinter group.

verb (used with object)

1. to split or break into splinters.

2. to break off (something) in splinters.

3. to split or break (a larger group) into separate factions or independent groups.

4. Obsolete.,  to secure or support by a splint or splints, as a broken limb.

verb (used without object)

1. to be split or broken into splinters.

2. to break off in splinters.

   Synonyms: split, part, separate

splinter

/ ˈsplɪntə /

noun

1. a very small sharp piece of wood, glass, metal, etc, characteristically long and thin, broken off from a whole

2. a metal fragment, from the container of a shell, bomb, etc, thrown out during an explosion

verb

1. to reduce or be reduced to sharp fragments; shatter

2. to break or be broken off in small sharp fragments

Other Word Forms

• splinterless adjective
• splintery adjective
• unsplintered adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of splinter¹

1350–1400; Middle English < Middle Dutch or Middle Low German; splint

Word History and Origins

Origin of splinter¹

C14: from Middle Dutch splinter; see _splint

Example Sentences

The two are constantly bickering about everything, and occasionally he breaks a door into splinters, though he never raises a hand against her.

Read more on Wall Street Journal

The company has been on the lookout for potential targets, but a challenging market and the splintered fresh food space made it hard to find the right ones, according to Chief Financial Officer Anthony Gruber.

Read more on Wall Street Journal

But Starmer’s problem is that his fragile coalition of Labour voters aren’t just flocking to one other party but splintering to alternatives across the political spectrum.

Read more on Wall Street Journal

And the widespread destruction of housing and communities has often meant families splintering to survive.

Read more on BBC

While there appears to be momentum within the party, in a splintered political landscape there is a question mark over how the Greens can turn this into votes.

Read more on BBC

Related Words

• disintegrate 
• fracture 
• rive 
• shatter 
• smash 
• split