splintered; splintering
ˈsplin-tə-riŋ 
-triŋ
2
: to split into fragments, parts, or factions
: to become splintered
Synonyms
Examples of splinter in a Sentence
Noun
I got a splinter in my finger.
There were splinters of glass everywhere.
Verb
The board splintered under his weight.
The impact of the crash splintered the glass.
groups that have splintered off to form new political movements
a political party that has been splintered by disagreements
Recent Examples on the Web
David Doty, Forbes, 13 Feb. 2024
Contents include different types and sizes of bandages and sterile dressings, antiseptic wipes, antibiotic ointment, tincture of benzoin, ibuprofen, aspirin, antihistamines, sting relief wipes, splinter tweezers, blister patches, and more.
—Jessica MacDonald, Travel + Leisure, 27 Feb. 2024
As the protest movement splinters, transitioning from highways to city halls, farmers will have another chance to air their grievances at the big annual International Agricultural Show at the end of February.
—Colette Davidson, The Christian Science Monitor, 2 Feb. 2024
The tunnels were the result of an ongoing dispute between the Chabad Lubavitch community and a more extremist splinter sect, which has long been embroiled in turmoil over ownership of the building housing the headquarters.
—Ej Dickson, Rolling Stone, 9 Jan. 2024
In 1978 a splinter faction, the Red Brigades, kidnapped Aldo Moro, a former prime minister who was the chairman of the centrist Christian Democratic Party.
—Clay Risen, New York Times, 22 Dec. 2023
The Adventure Kit Ultralight Watertight .5 comes with basic bandages, antiseptic cream, a variety over-the-counter pain and anti-inflammatory medicines, and travel-sized tools to help with splinters, scrapes, and cuts.
—Katherine Alex Beaven, Travel + Leisure, 8 Dec. 2023
But Take Note: While this kit comes with a splinter remover, tweezers aren't included.
—Katrina Cossey, Parents, 5 Oct. 2023
It’s made from a canvas material and is propped up by wood poles that are sanded down to prevent them from getting splinters.
—Nor'adila Hepburn, Southern Living, 17 Nov. 2023
Brandy Zadrozny, NBC News, 3 Apr. 2024
Three additional congregations splintered off from Highland Boulevard.
—Sophie Carson, Journal Sentinel, 28 Mar. 2024
In the western state of Maharashtra, home to Mumbai, India’s financial and entertainment capital, Mr. Modi’s officials have splintered the state’s two largest parties through a mix of pressure from investigative agencies and offers of incentives.
—Hari Kumar, New York Times, 25 Mar. 2024
The hum of a tiger mosquito B. Static from an AOL dial-up connection
C. Glass splintering in an explosion
D.
—Craigh Barboza, The Hollywood Reporter, 26 Feb. 2024
Eight years later, Mackenzie wrote a memoir that exposed her decade-long incestuous relationship with her father, which led to splintering within the siblings’ relationships.
—Rebecca Aizin, Peoplemag, 23 Feb. 2024
When another attack splinters the small town of Pikeville, Charlotte is the first witness on the scene.
—Joe Otterson, Variety, 19 Mar. 2024
Competing conceptions of purgatory were also a major catalyst for an event that would splinter Christianity and, with it, all of Western Europe.
—Lanta Davis and Vince Reighard, Smithsonian Magazine, 15 Mar. 2024
However, 764 and com have persisted, reemerging and splintering into dozens of new Discord servers and Telegram group chats that frequently change identifying information to stay ahead of the platforms and law enforcement.
—Ali Winston, WIRED, 13 Mar. 2024
Noun
Even as the internet splinters into walled gardens and apps (the splinternet), the same rules apply.
—David Doty, Forbes, 13 Feb. 2024
Contents include different types and sizes of bandages and sterile dressings, antiseptic wipes, antibiotic ointment, tincture of benzoin, ibuprofen, aspirin, antihistamines, sting relief wipes, splinter tweezers, blister patches, and more.
—Jessica MacDonald, Travel + Leisure, 27 Feb. 2024
As the protest movement splinters, transitioning from highways to city halls, farmers will have another chance to air their grievances at the big annual International Agricultural Show at the end of February.
—Colette Davidson, The Christian Science Monitor, 2 Feb. 2024
The tunnels were the result of an ongoing dispute between the Chabad Lubavitch community and a more extremist splinter sect, which has long been embroiled in turmoil over ownership of the building housing the headquarters.
—Ej Dickson, Rolling Stone, 9 Jan. 2024
In 1978 a splinter faction, the Red Brigades, kidnapped Aldo Moro, a former prime minister who was the chairman of the centrist Christian Democratic Party.
—Clay Risen, New York Times, 22 Dec. 2023
The Adventure Kit Ultralight Watertight .5 comes with basic bandages, antiseptic cream, a variety over-the-counter pain and anti-inflammatory medicines, and travel-sized tools to help with splinters, scrapes, and cuts.
—Katherine Alex Beaven, Travel + Leisure, 8 Dec. 2023
But Take Note: While this kit comes with a splinter remover, tweezers aren't included.
—Katrina Cossey, Parents, 5 Oct. 2023
It’s made from a canvas material and is propped up by wood poles that are sanded down to prevent them from getting splinters.
—Nor'adila Hepburn, Southern Living, 17 Nov. 2023
Verb
Identity Evropa dissolved in 2019; its leadership splintered to other white nationalist groups.
—Brandy Zadrozny, NBC News, 3 Apr. 2024
Three additional congregations splintered off from Highland Boulevard.
—Sophie Carson, Journal Sentinel, 28 Mar. 2024
In the western state of Maharashtra, home to Mumbai, India’s financial and entertainment capital, Mr. Modi’s officials have splintered the state’s two largest parties through a mix of pressure from investigative agencies and offers of incentives.
—Hari Kumar, New York Times, 25 Mar. 2024
The hum of a tiger mosquito B. Static from an AOL dial-up connection
C. Glass splintering in an explosion
D.
—Craigh Barboza, The Hollywood Reporter, 26 Feb. 2024
Eight years later, Mackenzie wrote a memoir that exposed her decade-long incestuous relationship with her father, which led to splintering within the siblings’ relationships.
—Rebecca Aizin, Peoplemag, 23 Feb. 2024
When another attack splinters the small town of Pikeville, Charlotte is the first witness on the scene.
—Joe Otterson, Variety, 19 Mar. 2024
Competing conceptions of purgatory were also a major catalyst for an event that would splinter Christianity and, with it, all of Western Europe.
—Lanta Davis and Vince Reighard, Smithsonian Magazine, 15 Mar. 2024
However, 764 and com have persisted, reemerging and splintering into dozens of new Discord servers and Telegram group chats that frequently change identifying information to stay ahead of the platforms and law enforcement.
—Ali Winston, WIRED, 13 Mar. 2024
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'splinter.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Word History
Etymology
Noun
Middle English, from Middle Dutch; akin to Middle Low German splinte splint
First Known Use
Noun
14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a
Verb
1582, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1
Time Traveler
The first known use of splinter was
in the 14th century
Phrases Containing splinter
Dictionary Entries Near splinter
Cite this Entry
“Splinter.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/splinter. Accessed 16 Apr. 2024.
Copy Citation
Kids Definition
splinter
1 of 2 noun
splin·ter
ˈsplint-ər
: a thin piece split or torn off lengthwise : sliver
splinter
adjective
splinter
2 of 2 verb
splintered; splintering
ˈsplint-ə-riŋ
ˈsplin-triŋ
: to divide or break into splinters
Medical Definition
splinter
noun
splin·ter
ˈsplint-ər
: a thin piece (as of wood) split or broken off lengthwise
especially
: such a piece embedded in the skin
used tweezers to remove a splinter
More from Merriam-Webster on splinter
Nglish: Translation of splinter for Spanish Speakers
Britannica English: Translation of splinter for Arabic Speakers
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