Synonym Chooser

How is the word member distinct from other similar nouns?

Some common synonyms of member are division, fragment, part, piece, portion, section, and segment. While all these words mean "something less than the whole," member suggests one of the functional units composing a body.

a structural member

In what contexts can division take the place of member?

While in some cases nearly identical to member, division applies to a large or diversified part.

the manufacturing division of the company

When is fragment a more appropriate choice than member?

Although the words fragment and member have much in common, fragment applies to a part produced by or as if by breaking off.

only a fragment of the play still exists

When is it sensible to use part instead of member?

The words part and member are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, part is a general term appropriate when indefiniteness is required.

they ran only part of the way

When would piece be a good substitute for member?

While the synonyms piece and member are close in meaning, piece applies to a separate or detached part of a whole.

a puzzle with 500 pieces

Where would portion be a reasonable alternative to member?

In some situations, the words portion and member are roughly equivalent. However, portion implies an assigned or allotted part.

cut the pie into six portions

When can section be used instead of member?

The words section and member can be used in similar contexts, but section applies to a relatively small or uniform part.

the entertainment section of the newspaper

When might segment be a better fit than member?

The meanings of segment and member largely overlap; however, segment applies to a part separated or marked out by or as if by natural lines of cleavage.

the retired segment of the population

Examples 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 member Around the year 1730, church leaders hired a congregation member named John Gibbs to paint 16 angels on the interior upper arches. Sarah Kuta, Smithsonian Magazine, 2 Jan. 2025 If kids or other family members are factored in that worker is below the poverty level. Brittney Melton, NPR, 2 Jan. 2025 LaFleur was a member of the 49ers staff when Garoppolo was traded to the 49ers in 2017. Gary Klein, Los Angeles Times, 1 Jan. 2025 The Washington Post first reported on the CDC's data, which found that in December alone, 781 cruise ship passengers and 109 crew members had fallen sick. Paul Du Quenoy, Newsweek, 1 Jan. 2025 See all Example Sentences for member 
Recent Examples of Synonyms for member
Noun
  • Despite having a few components to consider (the drone, the remote, and the smartphone app), the engineering and integration are well executed.
    PCMAG, PCMAG, 14 Jan. 2025
  • Existing workflows typically revolve around a tool that does the heavy lifting, and threat intelligence will be a component that the tool has to carry.
    David Monnier, Forbes, 14 Jan. 2025
Noun
  • The Tuesday, January 7 episode of Wheel was a special one as current host Ryan Seacrest paused the game portion of the show to give viewers a behind-the-scenes look at the various folks who work on the program.
    Tommy Tuberville, Newsweek, 9 Jan. 2025
  • Confidence for moderate or higher impacts from snow are greatest across portions of the Ouachita Mountains along with Little Rock and Hot Springs.
    Remington Miller, arkansasonline.com, 8 Jan. 2025
Noun
  • These elements can then be presented as italics on a computer screen but be read with a different intonation by a screen reader.
    Tim Carmody, WIRED, 6 Jan. 2025
  • Dunlavey says that sustainability also depends on site location and the stadium’s connectivity to its city, as well as the build’s eco-friendly elements.
    Kyle Newman, The Denver Post, 6 Jan. 2025
Noun
  • It was supposed to be a small part of the year’s end big agreement to keep the government running, but Elon Musk wrecked the deal.
    New York Daily News Editorial Board, New York Daily News, 14 Jan. 2025
  • Rams Dominant Rams makes themselves at home in Arizona with rout of Vikings Jan. 13, 2025 Now, the pride part.
    Sam Farmer, Los Angeles Times, 14 Jan. 2025
Noun
  • Additionally, greater stability and job security were ranked among the top factors employees consider when determining whether to take a new position.
    Kent Ingle, Forbes, 10 Jan. 2025
  • All of these lifestyle and personal health factors can influence how risky alcohol consumption is for you.
    Nikki Crowley, The Conversation, 10 Jan. 2025
Noun
  • An analysis of satellite images by Microsoft offered a glimpse of the devastation in one section of Pacific Palisades, a wealthy neighborhood between Malibu and Santa Monica.
    Leanne Abraham, New York Times, 10 Jan. 2025
  • Vargas lives in the Morris Heights section of the Bronx, about nine miles from where the mugging took place.
    Thomas Tracy, New York Daily News, 10 Jan. 2025
Noun
  • Walking tours through this bustling district reveal a rich tapestry of Filipino-Chinese heritage, from ancient temples and traditional herbal shops to iconic eateries and markets filled with eye-catching ingredients.
    Ching Dee, Forbes, 2 Jan. 2025
  • And the meal is coming together oddly, with extra ingredients tossed to the side (or, in one evocative case, lined up neatly in the dish dryer).
    Kate Erbland, IndieWire, 1 Jan. 2025
Noun
  • Their broadcasts led with segments from the scenes of the deadly attacks that told viewers what was known at the time and included footage of press conferences by the law enforcement agencies investigating the crimes.
    Gustavo Arellano, Los Angeles Times, 4 Jan. 2025
  • Private credit has been one of the fastest-growing segments of the financial system over the past 15 years, growing nearly tenfold to $2 trillion by the end of 2023.
    Andreas Schweitzer, Forbes, 3 Jan. 2025

Thesaurus Entries Near member

Cite this Entry

“Member.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/member. Accessed 17 Jan. 2025.

More from Merriam-Webster on member

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