schism

noun

ˈsi-zəm How to pronounce schism (audio)
Definition of schismnext
1
as in discord
a lack of agreement or harmony schism within the charitable organization was preventing it from achieving its goals

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in split
the act or process of a whole separating into two or more parts or pieces the schism of the Christian church into the Roman Catholic and Eastern Orthodox churches

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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 schism The lasting schism among religious groups would ultimately be linked to the assassination of Mahatma Gandhi (1948) and that of Indira Gandhi (1984). — Tracy Grant, Encyclopedia Britannica, 7 Aug. 2026 But the Kirtland church community soon experienced schisms and conflicts over doctrine, money and authority. — ABC News, 6 Aug. 2026 Millions of pilgrims converge on the holy city of Karbala, south of Baghdad, for Arbaeen, the 40th day of mourning for the killing of Imam Hussein 14 centuries ago, a definitive event in the schism between Shia and Sunni Islam. — Jane Arraf, NPR, 30 July 2026 To waste all these resources on some esoteric arty thing, that’s when the schism started to happen for me. — Zac Ntim, Deadline, 29 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for schism
Recent Examples of Synonyms for schism
  1. discord
  2. split
  3. strife
  4. dissolution
  5. friction
  6. breakup
  7. conflict
  8. division
Noun
  • Officials say the attacks are intended to undermine support for Ukraine, spread fear and discord in European societies and drain investigative resources.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 26 Aug. 2026
  • The disconnect between intent and impact could be sowing discord.
    — Jennifer Liu, CNBC, 20 Aug. 2026
Definition of discord
Noun
  • Hudler’s high-energy persona creates a sharp split amongst graders.
    — Pete Grathoff, Kansas City Star, 25 Aug. 2026
  • The company announced a corporate split in September 2025, which was later paused in favor of a $700 million reinvestment plan.
    — Sam Birchall, Fortune, 25 Aug. 2026
Definition of split
Noun
  • Bernadette explains the racial nuances the Guardians might not know as newcomers to Earth, echoing the landmark 1971 Green Lantern/Green Arrow comic series, which attempts to bring the space cops down to Earth by exposing them to racial strife.
    — Siddhant Adlakha, Vulture, 31 Aug. 2026
  • Prosecutors believe he was killed because of ongoing strife with his former wife, Shanna Gardner, over the parenting of their twins.
    — Ed White, Los Angeles Times, 27 Aug. 2026
Definition of strife
Noun
  • Tymon Brown, the Gravel Institute’s head of production, said that the nonprofit’s dissolution was never explained to him or the rest of the organization.
    — T.M. Brown, CNN Money, 29 Aug. 2026
  • In the following centuries, Norway didn't have a king of its own until Harald's grandfather, Haakon VII, was elected king following the 1905 dissolution of the union between Sweden and Norway.
    — CBS News, CBS News, 28 Aug. 2026
Definition of dissolution
Noun
  • That moisturizing combination can benefit dry, brittle strands, too, since better lubricated hair creates less friction—and potentially less tangling and mechanical breakage—during brushing and styling.
    — Christa Joanna Lee, Allure, 28 Aug. 2026
  • Bridge’s rapid rise was driven by regions that featured high friction across borders, like Latin America.
    — Angelica Ang, Fortune, 28 Aug. 2026
Definition of friction
Noun
  • Then there are the affair-and-breakup songs, tunes where someone is searching for something better, like young musicians heading west to get famous.
    — Grayson Haver Currin, Pitchfork, 30 Aug. 2026
  • But a drumbeat of doubt began in Elwood’s head in 2010 on a tour of Sarajevo, where Bosnian-Serb forces had committed atrocities during the war that followed the breakup of Yugoslavia.
    — Rob Picheta, CNN Money, 30 Aug. 2026
Definition of breakup
Noun
  • Meanwhile, outside the five districts that Democrats hope to switch, there are safely Democratic districts where progressive candidates are jousting with mainstream rivals, a subset of the national party’s ideological conflict.
    — Dan Walters, Mercury News, 25 Aug. 2026
  • Add to this the conflict in the Middle East driving up gas prices, and the macroeconomic backdrop to back-to-school shopping is hardly optimal.
    — Joe Bobowicz, Vogue, 25 Aug. 2026
Definition of conflict
Noun
  • Cameron moved up to the division earlier this year and defeated Michaela Kotaskova by unanimous decision in April to claim the vacant WBO title and become a two-weight world champion.
    — Amelie Claydon, New York Times, 30 Aug. 2026
  • How would Leading Change be able to knock heads against the heavyweights of the division at a mile and a quarter distance?
    — Danny Brewer, Forbes.com, 30 Aug. 2026
Definition of division

Browse Nearby Words

scheming (out)
schism
schismatic
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Cite this Entry

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

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More from Merriam-Webster on schism

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about schism

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