divide 1 of 2

1
2
as in to separate
to go or move in different directions from a central point The group divided based on those who wanted to go swimming and those who didn't.

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

3
as in to polarize
to cause (people) to break up into opposing groups Opinions about the war divided people who are otherwise likeminded.

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

divide

2 of 2

noun

Synonym Chooser

How is the word divide distinct from other similar verbs?

Some common synonyms of divide are divorce, part, separate, sever, and sunder. While all these words mean "to become or cause to become disunited or disjointed," divide implies separating into pieces or sections by cutting or breaking.

civil war divided the nation

In what contexts can divorce take the place of divide?

The words divorce and divide are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, divorce implies separating two things that commonly interact and belong together.

cannot divorce scientific research from moral responsibility

When can part be used instead of divide?

While in some cases nearly identical to divide, part implies the separating of things or persons in close union or association.

vowed never to part

When would separate be a good substitute for divide?

In some situations, the words separate and divide are roughly equivalent. However, separate may imply any of several causes such as dispersion, removal of one from others, or presence of an intervening thing.

separated her personal life from her career

When might sever be a better fit than divide?

The words sever and divide can be used in similar contexts, but sever implies violence especially in the removal of a part or member.

a severed limb

When is sunder a more appropriate choice than divide?

While the synonyms sunder and divide are close in meaning, sunder suggests violent rending or wrenching apart.

a city sundered by racial conflict

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 divide
Verb
To date, 15 teams have been confirmed, helping to close the divide between the college and professional ranks. Caroline Fitzgerald, Forbes.com, 10 Sep. 2025 That opens the door for opponents of the bill to collect enough signatures within 90 days of its passage to force a statewide vote on the new map, which would divide Kansas City along Troost Avenue, the city’s de facto racial divide created by Jim Crow-era housing policies. Matthew Kelly, Kansas City Star, 10 Sep. 2025
Noun
Whether to extend them — and for how long — is dividing lawmakers, including in Southern California. Kaitlyn Schallhorn, Oc Register, 10 Sep. 2025 Any bills that reach Walz’s desk to be signed into law will require bipartisan support, and the Legislature is narrowly divided. Alex Derosier, Twin Cities, 10 Sep. 2025 See All Example Sentences for divide
Recent Examples of Synonyms for divide
Verb
  • Others view it as a brazen attempt to split up Kansas City’s minority voters.
    Kacen Bayless, Kansas City Star, 9 Sep. 2025
  • That resulted in a hung parliament split between the National Rally, the left-wing New Popular Front, and Macron’s Renaissance bloc.
    Miranda Jeyaretnam, Time, 9 Sep. 2025
Verb
  • But that isn’t separating Texans from their steaks.
    Bud Kennedy, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 10 Sep. 2025
  • Gray loves Catrice Hyper Lash Mascara, which separates lashes for definition, length, volume, and curl.
    Ariana Yaptangco, Glamour, 10 Sep. 2025
Noun
  • The dispute was heard by an arbitrator (and not a judge) because, per SPAC language and accompanying NBPA regulations, player-agent disputes are subject to arbitration.
    Michael McCann, Sportico.com, 12 Sep. 2025
  • The dishwasher was made in America, though there is some dispute over who did it.
    Jeremy Lott, The Washington Examiner, 12 Sep. 2025
Noun
  • Kirk’s rise from a suburban Chicago teenager to the face of the Republican Party’s youth wing reshaped the political landscape and energized a new generation of conservatives.
    Samantha-Jo Roth, The Washington Examiner, 12 Sep. 2025
  • While the motivation behind the killing is still unknown, Kirk's death has escalated anxieties about the rise of political violence in the United States and the deepening divide within American society.
    Giulia Carbonaro, MSNBC Newsweek, 12 Sep. 2025
Verb
  • If time allows, disconnect utilities and appliances.
    NC Weather Bot, Charlotte Observer, 13 Sep. 2025
  • The announcement did not specify when the business would shutter, but when The Denver Post called on Friday morning, the number had already been disconnected.
    Tiney Ricciardi, Denver Post, 12 Sep. 2025
Verb
  • The piece shows the king with hair parted down the middle and with a long goatee, photos show.
    Irene Wright, Miami Herald, 8 Sep. 2025
  • The designer's long, dark hair is parted to the side and styled sleek and straight.
    Catherine Santino, PEOPLE, 8 Sep. 2025
Noun
  • Wyatt exited and then returned to the project amid creative fissures, including wrangling over the movie’s tone, pacing, and length.
    Jake Kanter, Deadline, 12 Sep. 2025
  • Trump is facing a catch-22 in the face of growing fissures at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and mounting departures of scientists and experts over vaccine policy.
    Elizabeth Crisp, The Hill, 3 Sep. 2025
Noun
  • The peak of hurricane season is here, and activity could soon ramp up, despite the relative quiet currently occurring in the tropics, according to meteorologists.
    Julia Jacobo, ABC News, 10 Sep. 2025
  • The roller coaster kept climbing higher and dropping lower until a decade and a half ago, when the film and TV star hit a new peak, then imploded.
    Oren Peleg, HollywoodReporter, 9 Sep. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Divide.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/divide. Accessed 15 Sep. 2025.

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