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
First came home goods and fashion, then seven museums across France, including the Musée de la Mode et du Costume in Arles—home to 10,000 pieces of Provençal clothing and accessories dating back to the French Revolution—which opened last summer. Kelley Manley, Travel + Leisure, 9 May 2026 Part of the androgynous collection originally launched in 2015, the piece (Ref. Rachel Cormack, Robb Report, 9 May 2026
Verb
Ahead, nine of our favorite runway looks to take into spring, and how to piece them together. Andrea Zendejas, Vogue, 9 Apr. 2026 Instead, teams relied on trial and error to piece it back together. Colson Thayer, PEOPLE, 1 Apr. 2026 See All Example Sentences for piece
Recent Examples of Synonyms for piece
Noun
  • On a spacecraft, this could not only puncture windows but also lead to internal spallation, where fragments break off inside the cabin.
    Alan Bradley, Space.com, 8 May 2026
  • When her skeletal remains were discovered in February 2023, investigators determined, based on the fact that no clothing fragments were found near her remains, that Morales’s body had been left there naked.
    Mason Leath, ABC News, 8 May 2026
Noun
  • Granite can tell us only so much, and the leaves scattered across the composition insist on the passage of time for any family, not just these.
    Casey Cep, New Yorker, 9 May 2026
  • The Boot of Cortez, on the other hand, is 98 percent pure gold, and its rich, luminous hue exemplifies that composition.
    Robb Report Studio, Robb Report, 8 May 2026
Noun
  • At the time of her death, Broderick was serving a sentence of 32 years to life with the possibility of parole after being convicted in 1991 of two counts of second-degree murder and firearm enhancements.
    Anthony Thompson, USA Today, 9 May 2026
  • If released, both people are ordered to wear a GPS tether and are prohibited from possessing any animals or firearms.
    DeJanay Booth-Singleton, CBS News, 9 May 2026
Noun
  • Specific financial arrangements have not been announced, though a portion of ticket proceeds will benefit a local nonprofit that provides programming for the LGBTQ+ community.
    Jacob Feldman, Sportico.com, 12 May 2026
  • However, the cap would have only covered a small portion of the losses caused by the collapse of the bridge, AG Brown said.
    JT Moodee Lockman, CBS News, 12 May 2026
Verb
  • The project is particularly acrimonious, drawing out geographical battles between north and south and thorny fights between officials who want to build the tunnel and environmentalists and Delta residents seeking to protect the local ecosystem and their way of life.
    Ian James, Los Angeles Times, 8 May 2026
  • If companies want to build data centers, for example, they should be required not only to absorb any electricity-cost increases but also to pay for upgrades to our grid infrastructure.
    Gideon Lewis-Kraus, New Yorker, 7 May 2026
Noun
  • The Iowa State product looks every bit of a near 6-foot-9 measurement, and started at right tackle for rookie units in 11-on-11 team periods.
    Luca Evans, Denver Post, 10 May 2026
  • In the end, Wave FC (6-3, 18 points) just had a little bit more firepower to sink Angel City FC (3-4, nine points) to a fourth consecutive loss.
    Damian Calhoun, Daily News, 10 May 2026
Noun
  • Another issue, Nikpay said, is that some pharmacies and pharmacy benefit managers charge healthcare providers large fees for this 340B work, which can reduce the provider’s savings on those drug prices.
    Dené K. Dryden, Twin Cities, 8 May 2026
  • In the video, published in 2024 and noted in the lawsuit, James references the original sketch work for Neytiri.
    Alexandra Del Rosario, Los Angeles Times, 8 May 2026
Noun
  • After Florida law changed last fall, Publix opted to allow customers to open carry, while other major grocery chains, including Walmart and Winn-Dixie, asked customers not to bring guns.
    Angie DiMichele, Sun Sentinel, 7 May 2026
  • McDonnell has publicly defended the stops as an essential law enforcement tool in the department’s fight against guns, gangs and drugs.
    Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 7 May 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Piece.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/piece. Accessed 13 May. 2026.

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