piece 1 of 2

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
The public offers a piece of its mind Mic's Celeste Katz discloses that Trump's controversial voter fraud panel won't let the public speak at its first meeting on July 19 but did solicit emails. The Hive, 14 July 2017 Alan Jacobs, a professor at Baylor University, has written eloquently about that last piece. Conor Friedersdorf, The Atlantic, 14 July 2017
Verb
The Milwaukee Bucks look set to piece things together at small forward this season, using a mix of different guys to cover the spot. Brian Sampson, Forbes.com, 19 July 2025 Stephen Markley, who’s the novelist on the show, and Katie French, who was the story editor, were so helpful with the outline and helping to piece this whole thing together. Jackie Strause, HollywoodReporter, 17 July 2025 See All Example Sentences for piece
Recent Examples of Synonyms for piece
Noun
  • Two algorithms then went to work: one assembling the fragments into complete molecular structures, the other predicting which of those structures would pack the strongest antibacterial punch.
    IEEE Spectrum, IEEE Spectrum, 14 Aug. 2025
  • For me, the early hours offer clarity before the day fragments.
    Marian Evans, Forbes.com, 11 Aug. 2025
Noun
  • One key to the spy agency’s success is the ethnic composition of Iran.
    Yossi Melman, ProPublica, 7 Aug. 2025
  • Valuation is a famously poor timing tool, however, and there are several structural reasons why current valuations look historically expensive, including the composition of the market itself.
    Jeffrey Schulze, Forbes.com, 6 Aug. 2025
Noun
  • Carrying personal firearms on base is typically prohibited by military regulations.
    Dakin Andone, CNN Money, 7 Aug. 2025
  • However, a new state law effective this month will allow officers to confiscate firearms in the immediate vicinity of someone placed on a mental health crisis hold.
    Leo Schwartz, Fortune, 6 Aug. 2025
Noun
  • This isn’t just some rustic detour on the Euro portion of this wine road trip.
    John Noakes, Hartford Courant, 12 Aug. 2025
  • This represents just a portion of the activities in the city, with countless businesses, tour operators and locals sponsoring their own activities ranging from concerts and tours to parties, food tastings and more.
    Carley Rojas Ávila, Forbes.com, 12 Aug. 2025
Verb
  • If your system requires constant work to function, look for a scalable solution that’s built to adapt, not break.
    Tim Pratte, Forbes.com, 7 Aug. 2025
  • Toyota also announced Thursday a plan to build a new vehicle factory in Japan, where car sales have been falling due to a shrinking population and declining ownership.
    CNN Money, CNN Money, 7 Aug. 2025
Noun
  • The games don't matter but have some pride in the performance at least a LITTLE bit.
    Evan Massey, MSNBC Newsweek, 17 Aug. 2025
  • Adding a little bit of playfulness and spontaneity into every conversation also makes space for laughter and even intimacy.
    Mark Travers, CNBC, 17 Aug. 2025
Noun
  • While many management companies shy away from association work, especially due to the difficulty in managing different personalities, jkROCK’s took a different path.
    Jason Phillips, USA Today, 12 Aug. 2025
  • At the same time, AI aims to make work more efficient—which is exactly what students are using it for.
    Lila Shroff, The Atlantic, 12 Aug. 2025
Noun
  • During the level two thrill ride, guests must use a Boo Blaster laser gun to zap Boocifer and other targets to accumulate points, the site adds.
    Haadiza Ogwude, The Enquirer, 13 Aug. 2025
  • Hunters may use all archery equipment, muzzle-loading guns, shotguns, centerfire rifles, revolvers and pistols and pre-charge pneumatic air guns to harvest bears.
    Jennifer Borresen, USA Today, 13 Aug. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Piece.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/piece. Accessed 21 Aug. 2025.

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