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

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 section
Noun
First, section your hair in six to eight pieces with clips, says Bennett. Catharine Malzahn, Glamour, 21 Aug. 2025 Jay, a gay man in his thirties, is sectioned after a bipolar episode and refuses to accept his diagnosis. Callum McLennan, Variety, 19 Aug. 2025
Verb
An outdoor swimming pool, spa, fire pits and grills will be located on the third floor between two taller sections of the building, according to plans submitted to the city. Phil Diehl, San Diego Union-Tribune, 19 Oct. 2025 And right now, Walmart’s clearance section is overflowing with lightweight, layerable quilts and blankets at steep discounts, with prices starting at just $8. Mariana Best, Better Homes & Gardens, 19 Oct. 2025 See All Example Sentences for section
Recent Examples of Synonyms for section
Noun
  • The contract will also include a waiver outlining the district’s liability for what goes on in the lot.
    Grace Tucker, Cincinnati Enquirer, 21 Oct. 2025
  • His new documentary, follows a public school district in Virginia that requires every student to participate in vocational training, such as welding or carpentry.
    Khaleda Rahman, MSNBC Newsweek, 21 Oct. 2025
Noun
  • Eat lunch, which comes in large portions and uses vegetables harvested on the property, on the hotel restaurant’s terrace, which has an astonishing view.
    Emilio Parra Doiztua, New York Times, 16 Oct. 2025
  • During the fundraising portion of the evening, auctioneer Zachary Ian Krone encouraged attendees to donate to City of Hope’s cause.
    Steven J. Horowitz, Variety, 16 Oct. 2025
Verb
  • Her long blond ends drew a stark contrast to her faded brown roots, which were parted down the middle and brushed up in the back.
    Kaleigh Werner, Footwear News, 17 Oct. 2025
  • Even her ex, Tom Cruise, is, and the two didn’t really part on great terms.
    Lizzie Lanuza, StyleCaster, 16 Oct. 2025
Noun
  • Never mind white World War Two soldiers’ relationship to segregation within the army itself, and ensuring that Black veterans couldn’t be entitled to the same VA resources, couldn’t move into the same neighborhoods that white veterans moved into.
    Fiction Non Fiction, Literary Hub, 23 Oct. 2025
  • Despite Dayton being a hub for mid-century furniture, Molski said he's been to nearly every one of Cincinnati's 52 neighborhoods.
    Kaycee Sloan, Cincinnati Enquirer, 23 Oct. 2025
Noun
  • Price and market positioning At $599, Dekoda sits firmly in the premium segment of consumer health technology.
    Aamir Khollam, Interesting Engineering, 20 Oct. 2025
  • During their 2012 interview, Guthrie awkwardly posed the question to Kardashian just as an audio cue to wrap the segment began to play.
    Emlyn Travis, Entertainment Weekly, 20 Oct. 2025
Verb
  • The game at Paycom Center was a tight affair, with very little to separate the two teams.
    Ben Morse, CNN Money, 22 Oct. 2025
  • But during their kiss, police swooped in to clear the crowd and wound up separating McSweeney from her kissing partner.
    Diane J. Cho, PEOPLE, 22 Oct. 2025
Noun
  • The aim is to drill the first well slowly, entering five different geologic zones and testing for oil and gas in each of them.
    Jordan Blum, Fortune, 22 Oct. 2025
  • The dates are based on historic data, but you should be prepared for an early frost in microclimate areas within the zones.
    Mary Marlowe Leverette, Southern Living, 21 Oct. 2025
Verb
  • The issue is the way improper technology use can fragment kids’ attention spans.
    Rachel Hale, USA Today, 16 Oct. 2025
  • However, up to this point in the 2025 NFL season, Carter's play has been fragmented by injury and availability issues.
    Rowan Fisher-Shotton, MSNBC Newsweek, 16 Oct. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Section.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/section. Accessed 23 Oct. 2025.

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