piece 1 of 2

Definition of piecenext
1
2
as in composition
a literary, musical, or artistic production presented a new interpretation of the piece by Mozart

Synonyms & Similar Words

3
4
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

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
Folks who take a photo with the pieces might even win a free four-pack of tickets by tagging the festival @FestivalPageant or the arts commission @LagunaBeachCulturalArts on social media. Erika I. Ritchie, Oc Register, 30 May 2026 Better yet, pieces start at just $17. Kaitlin Clapinski, InStyle, 30 May 2026
Verb
Years later, after fans repeatedly demanded the full version, Swift pieced it together into the now-iconic 10-minute track. Bryan West, USA Today, 28 Apr. 2026 For the past decade, a team of scholars, librarians, and archivists have used bibliographical clues—including inscriptions and bookplates—to piece back together a record of Schomburg’s groundbreaking collection. Laura E. Helton, Literary Hub, 20 Apr. 2026 See All Example Sentences for piece
Recent Examples of Synonyms for piece
Noun
  • Poland, Croatia, Romania and non-NATO member Moldova all have reported airspace violations and found drone fragments on their territory since the war began.
    Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 30 May 2026
  • That impact was visible throughout the beach Thursday as students sifted through sand searching for cigarette butts, plastic fragments, bottle caps, and other debris often overlooked by beachgoers.
    Daily News, Daily News, 29 May 2026
Noun
  • The composition of this fingerprint is different from the mixture of chemicals someone was initially exposed to, as some PFAS accumulate in blood to a greater extent than others.
    Carrie McDonough, The Conversation, 29 May 2026
  • From 1976 through 2008, the GPI was low and stable, averaging 13, but the composition shifted markedly over time.
    Bruce Sibley, Time, 29 May 2026
Noun
  • He was booked at the Long Beach Jail for murder and minor in possession of a firearm.
    Dean Fioresi, CBS News, 31 May 2026
  • Carrying a firearm without a license.
    Flint McColgan, Boston Herald, 31 May 2026
Noun
  • The memorial is made up of a garden with 50 granite steps leading to a massive tablet carved with a portion of his inauguration address from 1961.
    Marina Watts, Entertainment Weekly, 2 June 2026
  • Blanche said later at the hearing that the DOJ wasn't abandoning the tax portion of the settlement.
    Aysha Bagchi, USA Today, 2 June 2026
Verb
  • As the story builds toward a violent showdown between the mourners and the town, the reader will be entranced by its surreal language and bizarre logic.
    Gabrielle Bellot, Literary Hub, 29 May 2026
  • San Diego still wants to build through pressure, circulate the ball, involve the goalkeeper and create superiority through the midfield.
    Eddie Brown, San Diego Union-Tribune, 29 May 2026
Noun
  • Maybe get him in motion a little bit more.
    Jaylon Thompson, Kansas City Star, 30 May 2026
  • There was always a little bit of John in each one of his performances.
    Rosy Cordero, Deadline, 30 May 2026
Noun
  • When the fabric is right, your comfort is sure to follow — but choosing pieces that are also work-appropriate is trickier.
    Tanya Sharma, PEOPLE, 29 May 2026
  • In her 2008 work Mirror Play, San Francisco Poets Theatre Beloved’s Carla Harryman employs a field of speakers as an engine for organizing meaning between interior perception and exterior reality.
    Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 29 May 2026
Noun
  • After police spoke to the teen and his family, but before police sought the emergency court order to confiscate guns, the father and his wife voluntarily stored 26 weapons — pistols, rifles and shotguns — with a licensed gun dealer, according to filings in the father’s case.
    Teri Figueroa, San Diego Union-Tribune, 27 May 2026
  • Price, who was out of jail on bond following a charge of harassment on family members, turned his gun on himself and on Wednesday was in Pleasant Hill police custody in a local hospital.
    Eric Adler, Kansas City Star, 27 May 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Piece.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/piece. Accessed 3 Jun. 2026.

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