splintered; splintering
ˈsplin-tə-riŋ 
-triŋ
2
: to split into fragments, parts, or factions
: to become splintered
Synonyms
Examples of splinter in a Sentence
Noun
I got a splinter in my finger.
There were splinters of glass everywhere.
Verb
The board splintered under his weight.
The impact of the crash splintered the glass.
groups that have splintered off to form new political movements
a political party that has been splintered by disagreements
Recent Examples on the Web
Megan Vick, EW.com, 28 Sep. 2024
The border has long seemed a political millstone for Democrats, a place where the party splinters on policy and the results are out of step with broad public opinion.
—Ronald J. Hansen, The Arizona Republic, 28 Sep. 2024
Sungmin Cho, Foreign Affairs, 12 Nov. 2024
Lewandowski immediately embarked on a power struggle that splintered the campaign and spilled into the press, Alberta writes.
—Dave Lawler, Axios, 2 Nov. 2024
See all Example Sentences for splinter 
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Noun
All the while, their connection deepens and splinters as life gets in the way and troubled pasts come to light.
—Megan Vick, EW.com, 28 Sep. 2024
The border has long seemed a political millstone for Democrats, a place where the party splinters on policy and the results are out of step with broad public opinion.
—Ronald J. Hansen, The Arizona Republic, 28 Sep. 2024
Verb
The countries have not always seen eye to eye over the past 75 years, but their relationship has never come close to splintering.
—Sungmin Cho, Foreign Affairs, 12 Nov. 2024
Lewandowski immediately embarked on a power struggle that splintered the campaign and spilled into the press, Alberta writes.
—Dave Lawler, Axios, 2 Nov. 2024
See all Example Sentences for splinter
Dictionary Entries Near splinter
Cite this Entry
“Splinter.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/splinter. Accessed 22 Nov. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
splinter
1 of 2 noun
splin·ter
ˈsplint-ər
: a thin piece split or torn off lengthwise : sliver
splinter
adjective
splinter
2 of 2 verb
splintered; splintering
ˈsplint-ə-riŋ
ˈsplin-triŋ
: to divide or break into splinters
Medical Definition
splinter
noun
splin·ter
ˈsplint-ər
: a thin piece (as of wood) split or broken off lengthwise
especially
: such a piece embedded in the skin
used tweezers to remove a splinter
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