section 1 of 2

1
as in district
an area (as of a city) set apart for some purpose or having some special feature several abandoned warehouses in the city's industrial section are being converted into art galleries and artists' lofts

Synonyms & Similar Words

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2
as in portion
one of the pieces from which something is designed to be assembled had trouble fitting the sections of the bookcase together

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

section

2 of 2

verb

Synonym Chooser

How is the word section distinct from other similar nouns?

Some common synonyms of section are division, fragment, member, part, piece, portion, and segment. While all these words mean "something less than the whole," section applies to a relatively small or uniform part.

the entertainment section of the newspaper

In what contexts can division take the place of section?

Although the words division and section have much in common, division applies to a large or diversified part.

the manufacturing division of the company

When is it sensible to use fragment instead of section?

The words fragment and section are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, fragment applies to a part produced by or as if by breaking off.

only a fragment of the play still exists

When is member a more appropriate choice than section?

While in some cases nearly identical to section, member suggests one of the functional units composing a body.

a structural member

When can part be used instead of section?

The synonyms part and section are sometimes interchangeable, but 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 section?

The words piece and section can be used in similar contexts, but piece applies to a separate or detached part of a whole.

a puzzle with 500 pieces

When could portion be used to replace section?

While the synonyms portion and section are close in meaning, portion implies an assigned or allotted part.

cut the pie into six portions

When might segment be a better fit than section?

In some situations, the words segment and section are roughly equivalent. 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 of section in a Sentence

These examples are automatically compiled from online sources to illustrate current usage. Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Recent Examples on the Web
Noun
The election of Patricia Urquiola as a full academic for the New Image Arts section originally took place Jan. 23, 2023. Sofia Celeste, WWD, 24 Oct. 2024 Roughly a decade later, he has been reduced to eating solitary microwaveable poultry-tagine dinners from the gourmet section of the supermarket chain Monoprix. Judith Shulevitz, The Atlantic, 24 Oct. 2024
Verb
Using two strands instead of three, the hair is sectioned into precise partings and twirled together. Ranyechi Udemezue, Vogue, 19 July 2024 Well, the girls section 1,600-meter record didn’t last very long. Steve Brand, San Diego Union-Tribune, 19 May 2024 See all Example Sentences for section 
Recent Examples of Synonyms for section
Noun
  • My suggestion is the California Democratic leaders hold town halls in each voting district and really listen to what the voters want before assuming blanket Trump opposition.
    Letters To The Editor, The Mercury News, 13 Nov. 2024
  • Created during the 2021 redistricting process, it was designed to be an evenly split swing district.
    John Aguilar, The Denver Post, 12 Nov. 2024
Noun
  • Significant damage was found on at least three beams and a portion of the bridge deck on the southbound side.
    Bebe Hodges, The Enquirer, 2 Nov. 2024
  • But the portion with date mistakes won’t be known until ballots are processed on Election Day on Tuesday.
    Bart Jansen, USA TODAY, 2 Nov. 2024
Verb
  • Their bruised appearances may come from upper clouds parting to reveal darker layers underneath, or perhaps a dark cloud tower looming in the stratosphere.
    Shi En Kim, Smithsonian Magazine, 5 Nov. 2024
  • In a mirror selfie shared on Thursday, Oct. 31, Hailey's bright copper hair is parted to the side and cascades around her shoulders, with bold highlights adding dimension to the style.
    Catherine Santino, People.com, 1 Nov. 2024
Noun
  • Renters in Los Angeles County were at least 14 percentage points more likely to support rent control, affordable housing construction and the use of housing vouchers in their own neighborhoods than homeowners, the survey found, while homeowners backed encampment sweeps more than renters.
    Liam Dillon, Los Angeles Times, 24 Oct. 2024
  • This could mean walking on a treadmill or through the neighborhood.
    Matt Fuchs, TIME, 24 Oct. 2024
Noun
  • In the next couple of years, the Big Three automakers (then Chrysler, GM and Ford) jumped into that segment and took over with the Plymouth Valiant, Chevrolet Corvair and Ford Falcon.
    David Krumboltz, The Mercury News, 10 Nov. 2024
  • For any that haven’t reached green, clicking the segment reveals exactly why and, in most cases, explains how to get a better score.
    PCMAG, PCMAG, 7 Nov. 2024
Verb
  • High-altitude rivalry The blurry boundaries through the Himalayan peaks and plateaus separating China and its southern neighbors are often relics of imperial era agreements and nomadic routes – now charged with the nationalist rhetoric and military might of New Delhi and Beijing.
    Simone McCarthy, CNN, 5 Nov. 2024
  • With Trump and Harris now separated by a hair in Michigan and Wisconsin, the Stein vote could once again prove decisive this year.
    Joe Edwards, Newsweek, 5 Nov. 2024
Noun
  • All four states are in the Eastern time zone so will report votes before the central time WI or AZ and NV in Mountain time.
    Thomas G. Moukawsher, Newsweek, 5 Nov. 2024
  • Lyft The rideshare company is offering voters a 50% discount of up to 10 bucks on rides to the polls on Election Day until 10 p.m. in every time zone.
    Kate Gibson, CBS News, 5 Nov. 2024
Verb
  • Rapid logging, agricultural expansion and infrastructure development are steadily fragmenting and diminishing its habitat.
    Scott Travers, Forbes, 5 Nov. 2024
  • However, the market still feels fragmented, as these products primarily focus on specific medical conditions.
    Calvin Rasode, Rolling Stone, 25 Oct. 2024

Thesaurus Entries Near section

Cite this Entry

“Section.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/section. Accessed 17 Nov. 2024.

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