PIECE Synonyms: 218 Similar and Opposite Words

Q: How is the word 'piece' distinct from other similar nouns?

Some common synonyms of piece are division , fragment , member , part , portion , section , and segment . While all these words mean "something less than the whole," piece applies to a separate or detached part of a whole. // a puzzle with 500 pieces

Q: When is 'division' a more appropriate choice than 'piece'?

While in some cases nearly identical to piece , division applies to a large or diversified part. // the manufacturing division of the company

Q: When can 'fragment' be used instead of 'piece'?

While the synonyms fragment and piece are close in meaning, fragment applies to a part produced by or as if by breaking off. // only a fragment of the play still exists

Q: Where would 'member' be a reasonable alternative to 'piece'?

In some situations, the words member and piece are roughly equivalent. However, member suggests one of the functional units composing a body. // a structural member

Q: When might 'part' be a better fit than 'piece'?

The words part and piece can be used in similar contexts, but part is a general term appropriate when indefiniteness is required. // they ran only part of the way

Q: When would 'portion' be a good substitute for 'piece'?

Although the words portion and piece have much in common, portion implies an assigned or allotted part. // cut the pie into six portions

Q: When could 'section' be used to replace 'piece'?

The meanings of section and piece largely overlap; however, section applies to a relatively small or uniform part. // the entertainment section of the newspaper

Q: In what contexts can 'segment' take the place of 'piece'?

The words segment and piece are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, segment applies to a part separated or marked out by or as if by natural lines of cleavage. // the retired segment of the population

piece 1 of 2

noun

ˈpēs

Definition of piece

as in fragment

a broken or irregular part of something that often remains incomplete a piece of stone fell from the crumbling wall

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

as in composition

a literary, musical, or artistic production presented a new interpretation of the piece by Mozart

Synonyms & Similar Words

as in firearm

a portable weapon from which a shot is discharged by gunpowder carrying a piece under his coat

Synonyms & Similar Words

as in portion

something belonging to, due to, or contributed by an individual member of a group believes his piece of the profits should be higher

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

piece

2 of 2

verb

as in to build

to form by putting together parts or materials you might want to piece together a quilt from those odd patches of cloth

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Synonym Chooser

How is the word piece distinct from other similar nouns?

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

a puzzle with 500 pieces

When is division a more appropriate choice than piece?

While in some cases nearly identical to piece, division applies to a large or diversified part.

the manufacturing division of the company

When can fragment be used instead of piece?

While the synonyms fragment and piece are close in meaning, fragment applies to a part produced by or as if by breaking off.

only a fragment of the play still exists

Where would member be a reasonable alternative to piece?

In some situations, the words member and piece are roughly equivalent. However, member suggests one of the functional units composing a body.

a structural member

When might part be a better fit than piece?

The words part and piece can be used in similar contexts, but part is a general term appropriate when indefiniteness is required.

they ran only part of the way

When would portion be a good substitute for piece?

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

cut the pie into six portions

When could section be used to replace piece?

The meanings of section and piece largely overlap; however, section applies to a relatively small or uniform part.

the entertainment section of the newspaper

In what contexts can segment take the place of piece?

The words segment and piece are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, 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 piece

Noun

Tennis champion Naomi Osaka has for years made the tennis court a runway, with her Nike outfits often paired with pieces made in collaboration with designers such as Hana Yagi and Robert Wun. — Corbin Bolies, Variety, 29 Aug. 2026 To paraphrase Tolstoy, all slop is alike, but every piece of trash is trashy in its own oddball way. — Becca Rothfeld, New Yorker, 29 Aug. 2026

Verb

Among the most harrowing was an overhead photograph of Rivas’ body pieced back together on a metal table, her face skeletonized. — Nancy Dillon, Rolling Stone, 24 July 2026 According to the band, Ow ∞ is a record about embracing a chaotic present while piecing yourself back together through memories, relationships and the creative process. — Spin Staff, SPIN, 21 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for piece

Recent Examples of Synonyms for piece

Noun

In a sequencer that resembled a large fridge, millions of short nucleic-acid fragments would be identified in the span of ten hours.

— Jason Liebowitz, New Yorker, 25 Aug. 2026
The artifacts included eight deformed sickles, one intact sickle, part of a sword blade, ornament fragments, three ingots and two unfinished objects.

— Andrea Margolis, FOXNews.com, 25 Aug. 2026

Definition of fragment

Noun

Her work combines documentary observation with staged composition to explore female perspectives, Berlins subcultures, and everyday intimacy.

— PhotoVogue, Vogue, 29 Aug. 2026
This represents the dynamics of Nigeria’s religious composition in one of the few places in the world where the population is almost evenly split between Christians, who live predominantly in the south, and Muslims, mostly in the north.

— ABC News, ABC News, 28 Aug. 2026

Definition of composition

Noun

Authorities learned Kreuzer had previously been arrested on suspicion of being a felon in possession of a firearm, domestic violence and leading law enforcement officers on a vehicle pursuit.

— Daniel Hunt August 29, Sacbee.com, 29 Aug. 2026
During these latest raids on five properties, the military seized 18,000 gallons of diesel, fuel tanks, pumps, firearms, and tools.

— CBS News, CBS News, 28 Aug. 2026

Definition of firearm

Noun

Because individual-stock premiums are currently richer, managers may also be able to meet their income targets by writing options against a smaller portion of the portfolio.

— Lee Ying Shan, CNBC, 1 Sep. 2026
The struggles contributed to growing frustration among portions of UCLA’s fan and donor base.

— Ira Gorawara, New York Times, 1 Sep. 2026

Definition of portion

Verb

Gates officially open Monday, August 31, but just over half of the attendees will arrive earlier to build the big art installations and other features of the temporary city.

— Anya Kamenetz, Curbed, 28 Aug. 2026
Netflix long vowed to build growth rather than buy it, but more recently it's gotten a taste for M&A.

— Sarah Whitten, CNBC, 28 Aug. 2026

Definition of build

Noun

But the tricky bit is doing so without eviscerating Congress’ regulatory powers across a lot of different dimensions, including criminal law, that the justices may also think important.

— Maureen Groppe, USA Today, 30 Aug. 2026
The terrific new album was played in its entirety during the middle portion of Squeeze’s set and evoked a little bit of the Beach Boys’ Pet Sounds in some spots.

— David Chiu, Forbes.com, 30 Aug. 2026

Definition of bit

Noun

Users reported problems with Outlook, while OpenAI said users may experience problems starting or continuing tasks in ChatGPT Work, temporarily disabling two of the modern office's favorite methods of assigning more work.

— Lim Hui Jie, CNBC, 1 Sep. 2026
Aquarius January 20 – February 18 A vague request could create an impressive amount of unnecessary work today.

— Tarot.com, New York Daily News, 1 Sep. 2026

Definition of work

Noun

Johnson went on to say his administration would continue efforts to curb gun violence and support those affected by shootings.

— Hannah Hudnall, USA Today, 31 Aug. 2026
The shooting comes toward the end of a summer that could still leave Chicago in position to match 2025’s rate of gun violence, which was the lowest seen in a decade.

— Caroline Kubzansky, Chicago Tribune, 31 Aug. 2026

Definition of gun

Cite this Entry

Style

“Piece.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/piece. Accessed 2 Sep. 2026.

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Synonyms of piece

noun

verb

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