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

Regardless, Cashman has his work cut out for him between now and the trade deadline Three weeks ago, his primary needs were a righty-hitting catcher and at least one other bullpen piece. — Bill Madden, New York Daily News, 4 July 2026 Available in 5-piece, 8-piece, 15-piece and 30-piece order sizes, the nuggets come in mini-buckets along with Jollibee’s signature gravy or one of five dipping sauces. — Mike Snider, USA Today, 5 July 2026

Verb

Bieber poses in matching bras and underwear with little beyond the seamless background, straightforward lighting and the cotton pieces themselves in the frame. — Maggie Clancy, Footwear News, 22 June 2026 The original creator opted to piece her garland together by cutting identical slits in the bottom and top of each strip, then sliding them together to create a chain. — Sophia Beams, Better Homes & Gardens, 29 May 2026 See All Example Sentences for piece

Recent Examples of Synonyms for piece

Noun

Seventy of the dogs were X-rayed on site, and many showed evidence of bullet fragments.

— Thao Nguyen, USA Today, 30 June 2026
Multiple fractures with missing fragments, fetlock open and disarticulated, severe soft-tissue damage.

— Ann Manov, Harpers Magazine, 30 June 2026

Definition of fragment

Noun

Sportsbook odds can also reflect risk management and bettor demand, while prediction markets can be influenced by liquidity and trader composition.

— Giovanni Malloy, Forbes.com, 4 July 2026
That’s not to mention an upcoming summer of local and national festivities that promises fireworks, parades, bands, speeches, prizes, and commemorative everything, from postage stamps and coins to musical compositions.

— Brenda Wineapple, The New York Review of Books, 4 July 2026

Definition of composition

Noun

He has been charged with first-degree murder and felony firearm.

— Christina Coulter, PEOPLE, 4 July 2026
Law enforcement later searched two locations in connection with the investigation into Hidrogo including a storage facility in Fort Worth where officers found 244 kilograms of meth with a purity level of 100 percent and more firearms.

— Fousia Abdullahi, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 4 July 2026

Definition of firearm

Noun

An extreme heat warning was in effect through Independence Day weekend across portions of the Midwest, South and Northeast, with New York City‘s Central Park reaching 100 on Thursday, the hottest temperature recorded there since July 18, 2012.

— Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 6 July 2026
Multiple British media outlets, including the BBC, reported Monday, July 6, that the estranged prince would be staying at Buckingham Palace during the London portion of his visit the the United Kingdom.

— Jennifer Hassan, USA Today, 6 July 2026

Definition of portion

Verb

Such strategies include building green roofs and courtyards to help with shading and air circulation, and using dense materials such as concrete or brick that can stabilize indoor temperatures in heat.

— Ignacio Calderon, USA Today, 3 July 2026
The latest work uses that capability to scan the space above a chip and build a detailed electromagnetic map.

— Aamir Khollam, Interesting Engineering, 3 July 2026

Definition of build

Noun

This pacing problem extends to subplots like the Henry-in-a-coma bit.

— Erik Kain, Forbes.com, 5 July 2026
Scientists pointed out that the abrasion bit the rover used to expose the rocks was sterilized before launch and has cut into other rocks across Jezero without ever producing a G-band this strong.

— Jacek Krywko, ArsTechnica, 4 July 2026

Definition of bit

Noun

But when menstrual symptoms become severe enough to interfere with work, school, relationships or daily activities, something more serious may be going on.

— Daryl Austin, USA Today, 7 July 2026
Oh, and hundreds of her works fill the screen, a magnificent and vibrant tour through her glorious career.

— Stuart Miller, Los Angeles Times, 7 July 2026

Definition of work

Noun

Consulting a design on a computer screen, the workers arranged the numbered pieces — from 14 inches to 12 feet long — into a grid on an oversize worktable and attached them with rapid nail gun blasts.

— Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 7 July 2026
The foundation helped raise more than $200,000 to pay off school lunch debt for students, gave out turkeys to families during the holidays and provided resources to those impacted by gun violence.

— Tyler Quattrin, Twin Cities, 7 July 2026

Definition of gun

Cite this Entry

Style

“Piece.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/piece. Accessed 7 Jul. 2026.

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Synonyms of piece

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noun

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