SUNDER Synonyms: 84 Similar and Opposite Words

Q: How is the word 'sunder' distinct from other similar verbs?

Some common synonyms of sunder are divide , divorce , part , separate , and sever . While all these words mean "to become or cause to become disunited or disjointed," sunder suggests violent rending or wrenching apart. // a city sundered by racial conflict

Q: When is it sensible to use 'divide' instead of 'sunder'?

The words divide and sunder can be used in similar contexts, but divide implies separating into pieces or sections by cutting or breaking. // civil war divided the nation

Q: When would 'divorce' be a good substitute for 'sunder'?

The words divorce and sunder are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, divorce implies separating two things that commonly interact and belong together. // cannot divorce scientific research from moral responsibility

Q: When can 'part' be used instead of 'sunder'?

The synonyms part and sunder are sometimes interchangeable, but part implies the separating of things or persons in close union or association. // vowed never to part

Q: When is 'separate' a more appropriate choice than 'sunder'?

Although the words separate and sunder have much in common, separate may imply any of several causes such as dispersion, removal of one from others, or presence of an intervening thing. // separated her personal life from her career

Q: Where would 'sever' be a reasonable alternative to 'sunder'?

The meanings of sever and sunder largely overlap; however, sever implies violence especially in the removal of a part or member. // a severed limb

sunder

verb

ˈsən-dər

Definition of sunder next

as in to divide

to set or force apart during the cold war East and West Berlin were sundered by an impenetrable wall

Synonyms & Similar Words

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How is the word sunder distinct from other similar verbs?

Some common synonyms of sunder are divide, divorce, part, separate, and sever. While all these words mean "to become or cause to become disunited or disjointed," sunder suggests violent rending or wrenching apart.

a city sundered by racial conflict

When is it sensible to use divide instead of sunder?

The words divide and sunder can be used in similar contexts, but divide implies separating into pieces or sections by cutting or breaking.

civil war divided the nation

When would divorce be a good substitute for sunder?

The words divorce and sunder are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, divorce implies separating two things that commonly interact and belong together.

cannot divorce scientific research from moral responsibility

When can part be used instead of sunder?

The synonyms part and sunder are sometimes interchangeable, but part implies the separating of things or persons in close union or association.

vowed never to part

When is separate a more appropriate choice than sunder?

Although the words separate and sunder have much in common, separate may imply any of several causes such as dispersion, removal of one from others, or presence of an intervening thing.

separated her personal life from her career

Where would sever be a reasonable alternative to sunder?

The meanings of sever and sunder largely overlap; however, sever implies violence especially in the removal of a part or member.

a severed limb

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 sunder Dissonant brass chords sundered the hall’s warm air like lightning. —

Justin Davidson, Vulture, 18 Mar. 2024 Kim is intent on sundering the U.S.–South Korea alliance. —

Sue Mi Terry, Foreign Affairs, 25 Oct. 2022 At this point, a single atom of oxygen could mingle with two hydrogen atoms to form a molecule of water—a molecule that could, in a cosmic cycle of creation and destruction, still be sundered anew by high-energy radiation from stars and other astrophysical sources. —

Shannon Hall, Scientific American, 23 Feb. 2024 And not now, as Israeli airstrikes crashed around him for the third week, erasing more of his neighborhood and sundering hundreds of families and friendships. —

TIME, 28 Oct. 2023 See all Example Sentences for sunder

Recent Examples of Synonyms for sunder

Verb

President Trump and billionaire sidekick Elon Musk Tuesday accused the liberal media of trying to divide them to thwart their shared political agenda.

— Dave Goldiner, New York Daily News, 18 Feb. 2025
Putin sees it as a way to divide the West, analysts say.

— Tracy Wilkinson, Los Angeles Times, 18 Feb. 2025