SEGMENT Synonyms: 106 Similar and Opposite Words

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

Some common synonyms of segment are division , fragment , member , part , piece , portion , and section . While all these words mean "something less than the whole," segment applies to a part separated or marked out by or as if by natural lines of cleavage. // the retired segment of the population

Q: Where would 'division' be a reasonable alternative to 'segment'?

The synonyms division and segment are sometimes interchangeable, but division applies to a large or diversified part. // the manufacturing division of the company

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

The meanings of fragment and segment largely overlap; however, fragment applies to a part produced by or as if by breaking off. // only a fragment of the play still exists

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

While the synonyms member and segment are close in meaning, member suggests one of the functional units composing a body. // a structural member

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

Although the words part and segment have much in common, part is a general term appropriate when indefiniteness is required. // they ran only part of the way

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

The words piece and segment can be used in similar contexts, but piece applies to a separate or detached part of a whole. // a puzzle with 500 pieces

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

The words portion and segment are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, portion implies an assigned or allotted part. // cut the pie into six portions

Q: When is it sensible to use 'section' instead of 'segment'?

In some situations, the words section and segment are roughly equivalent. However, section applies to a relatively small or uniform part. // the entertainment section of the newspaper

segment 1 of 2

noun

ˈseg-mənt

Definition of segment

as in portion

one of the pieces from which something is designed to be assembled I think I lost one segment of this model kit

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

segment

2 of 2

verb

as in to quarter

Related Words

Dissimilar Words

Synonym Chooser

How is the word segment distinct from other similar nouns?

Some common synonyms of segment are division, fragment, member, part, piece, portion, and section. While all these words mean "something less than the whole," segment applies to a part separated or marked out by or as if by natural lines of cleavage.

the retired segment of the population

Where would division be a reasonable alternative to segment?

The synonyms division and segment are sometimes interchangeable, but division applies to a large or diversified part.

the manufacturing division of the company

When can fragment be used instead of segment?

The meanings of fragment and segment largely overlap; however, fragment applies to a part produced by or as if by breaking off.

only a fragment of the play still exists

In what contexts can member take the place of segment?

While the synonyms member and segment are close in meaning, member suggests one of the functional units composing a body.

a structural member

When might part be a better fit than segment?

Although the words part and segment have much in common, part is a general term appropriate when indefiniteness is required.

they ran only part of the way

When could piece be used to replace segment?

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

a puzzle with 500 pieces

When would portion be a good substitute for segment?

The words portion and segment are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, portion implies an assigned or allotted part.

cut the pie into six portions

When is it sensible to use section instead of segment?

In some situations, the words section and segment are roughly equivalent. However, section applies to a relatively small or uniform part.

the entertainment section of the newspaper

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 segment

Noun

Its products are organized across lifestyle, beauty and toy segments. — Russell Flannery, Forbes.com, 30 Aug. 2026 Suddenly, scientists could observe features specific to modern-day insect body plans, like three distinct thoracic segments and three pairs of legs. — New Atlas, 30 Aug. 2026

Verb

That required segmenting the coil and inserting electronics within it to keep it from radiating its energy away like an antenna. — IEEE Spectrum, 30 Apr. 2026 If a judge overturned Tuesday’s court ruling to extend polling place times, the provisional ballots would help election officials segment out votes cast after polls were originally scheduled to close. — Jamie Landers, Dallas Morning News, 4 Mar. 2026 See All Example Sentences for segment

Recent Examples of Synonyms for segment

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

Noun

This article is part of the Business of Influence series, examining the inner workings of content creation and how the industry is set to change in the years to come.

— Joe Bobowicz, Vogue, 1 Sep. 2026
These folks include my sister, two brothers and a beloved SIL, all who’ve been a loving part of our 41-year-old’s life since birth.

— R. Eric Thomas, Chicago Tribune, 1 Sep. 2026

Definition of part

Verb

Recent history recalls plans to partition Iraq into ethnic substates.

— David Armitage, Washington Post, 26 June 2026
In August 1947 the Indian subcontinent achieved independence from British rule but was simultaneously partitioned into the separate countries India and Pakistan.

— Gitanjali Roy, Encyclopedia Britannica, 5 May 2026

Definition of partition

Noun

The judge later ruled in late 2024 that the two sections were unconstitutional.

— Joseph Flaherty, Arkansas Online, 28 Aug. 2026
The goddess Gayatri, a divine manifestation of the Gayatri mantra, is described in the Mahanarayana Upanishad as having five heads, along with three feet, six abdominal sections, and 24 syllables.

— Charles Preston, Encyclopedia Britannica, 28 Aug. 2026

Definition of section

Verb

Was the discursive thread accidental, or emblematic of the two poles the AI industry is now bifurcated between?

— Anisha Sircar, Forbes.com, 30 July 2026
London said the rental market is bifurcated, with older apartment complexes generally fuller than newer ones.

— Michael Smolens, San Diego Union-Tribune, 12 July 2026

Definition of bifurcate

Verb

Most of that gap came via the right arm of sophomore quarterback Ford Green, who dissected the Chargers, completing 14 of 18 passes for 257 yards and four touchdowns.

— Joel Beers, Los Angeles Times, 29 Aug. 2026
Each flower must be picked and carefully dissected to remove three tiny red threads, known as stigmas.

— Callie Zanandrie, CBS News, 28 Aug. 2026

Definition of dissect

Verb

The case has become a national cultural fixation and a social media spectacle, gripping and dividing spectators well beyond the Massachusetts courtroom where the 36-year-old mother is charged with killing her three young children.

— Daniel Arkin, NBC news, 29 Aug. 2026
Essentially a form of computational fluid dynamics, the simulation divides the flow passages into a very large number of tiny regions and calculates things such as velocity, pressure, turbulence, and temperature throughout the component.

— Christopher McFadden, Interesting Engineering, 29 Aug. 2026

Definition of divide

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see to

segment

segmentation

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“Segment.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/segment. Accessed 1 Sep. 2026.

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