section 1 of 2

1
as in district
an area (as of a city) set apart for some purpose or having some special feature several abandoned warehouses in the city's industrial section are being converted into art galleries and artists' lofts

Synonyms & Similar Words

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2
as in portion
one of the pieces from which something is designed to be assembled had trouble fitting the sections of the bookcase together

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

section

2 of 2

verb

Synonym Chooser

How is the word section distinct from other similar nouns?

Some common synonyms of section are division, fragment, member, part, piece, portion, and segment. While all these words mean "something less than the whole," section applies to a relatively small or uniform part.

the entertainment section of the newspaper

In what contexts can division take the place of section?

Although the words division and section have much in common, division applies to a large or diversified part.

the manufacturing division of the company

When is it sensible to use fragment instead of section?

The words fragment and section are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, fragment applies to a part produced by or as if by breaking off.

only a fragment of the play still exists

When is member a more appropriate choice than section?

While in some cases nearly identical to section, member suggests one of the functional units composing a body.

a structural member

When can part be used instead of section?

The synonyms part and section are sometimes interchangeable, but part is a general term appropriate when indefiniteness is required.

they ran only part of the way

When would piece be a good substitute for section?

The words piece and section can be used in similar contexts, but piece applies to a separate or detached part of a whole.

a puzzle with 500 pieces

When could portion be used to replace section?

While the synonyms portion and section are close in meaning, portion implies an assigned or allotted part.

cut the pie into six portions

When might segment be a better fit than section?

In some situations, the words segment and section are roughly equivalent. However, segment applies to a part separated or marked out by or as if by natural lines of cleavage.

the retired segment of the population

Examples 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 section
Noun
The measure updates other sections of the charter dealing with capital improvement funds and spending powers. Destiny Torres, Orange County Register, 6 Nov. 2024 Stipe now enunciated his lyrics, which shaded into social commentary, while the arrangements drew from a palette that included string sections, mandolins and an increasing reliance on Mills’ textured keyboard parts. Marc Weingarten, Los Angeles Times, 5 Nov. 2024
Verb
The minimalist, industrial interiors with spare metallic racks sectioning the space nod to C.P. Company’s penchant for R&D and fabric research. Martino Carrera, WWD, 2 Aug. 2024 Using two strands instead of three, the hair is sectioned into precise partings and twirled together. Ranyechi Udemezue, Vogue, 19 July 2024 See all Example Sentences for section 
Recent Examples of Synonyms for section
Noun
  • My suggestion is the California Democratic leaders hold town halls in each voting district and really listen to what the voters want before assuming blanket Trump opposition.
    Letters To The Editor, The Mercury News, 13 Nov. 2024
  • Voters were tasked with selecting four sanitary district directors from five candidates.
    Alexcia Negrete, Orange County Register, 12 Nov. 2024
Noun
  • Golden State didn’t qualify for the Las Vegas portion of the tournament.
    Danny Emerman, The Mercury News, 12 Nov. 2024
  • Landeskog did not remain on the ice for the full team portion of the morning skate.
    Corey Masisak, The Denver Post, 11 Nov. 2024
Verb
  • At that point, the fan wanted no part of the chat anymore, and Franklin left a parting message.
    Ryan Morik, Fox News, 2 Nov. 2024
  • Stop in just before dinner to catch the sun cast a parting glow across the herb garden.
    Lauren Mowery, Forbes, 13 Oct. 2024
Noun
  • The shooting in Little Italy San Diego Police are investigating a deadly shooting in broad daylight Wednesday in San Diego’s Little Italy neighborhood that was followed by a shootout involving police a short while later.
    NBC San Diego, NBC News, 14 Nov. 2024
  • The launch will start in the SoMa neighborhood and expand to more areas of the city if all goes well.
    Emily Dreibelbis Forlini, PCMAG, 11 Nov. 2024
Noun
  • In the next couple of years, the Big Three automakers (then Chrysler, GM and Ford) jumped into that segment and took over with the Plymouth Valiant, Chevrolet Corvair and Ford Falcon.
    David Krumboltz, The Mercury News, 10 Nov. 2024
  • For any that haven’t reached green, clicking the segment reveals exactly why and, in most cases, explains how to get a better score.
    PCMAG, PCMAG, 7 Nov. 2024
Verb
  • Gong then drove each victim’s Tesla to separate desert areas and burned them, the DA’s office said.
    Dennis Romero, NBC News, 13 Nov. 2024
  • In District 1, John Park and Melinda Liu have pulled away from three other candidates in the race, but the two of them were separated by just 57 votes out of more than 14,900 votes tallied as of Friday night.
    Jonathan Horwitz, Orange County Register, 8 Nov. 2024
Noun
  • Blackhawks express desperation but don't show it in another narrow defeat What's ailing the Packers in the red zone?
    New York Times, New York Times, 20 Nov. 2024
  • Pluto is moving forward in your financial zone for the next two decades.
    Skyler Caruso, People.com, 19 Nov. 2024
Verb
  • That is especially true in the U.S., where efforts to implement AI safety laws have been fragmented at best.
    Michael Wade, TIME, 13 Oct. 2024
  • Rapid logging, agricultural expansion and infrastructure development are steadily fragmenting and diminishing its habitat.
    Scott Travers, Forbes, 5 Nov. 2024

Thesaurus Entries Near section

Cite this Entry

“Section.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/section. Accessed 25 Nov. 2024.

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