divide 1 of 2

1
2
as in to separate
to go or move in different directions from a central point The group divided based on those who wanted to go swimming and those who didn't.

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

3
as in to polarize
to cause (people) to break up into opposing groups Opinions about the war divided people who are otherwise likeminded.

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

divide

2 of 2

noun

Synonym Chooser

How is the word divide distinct from other similar verbs?

Some common synonyms of divide are divorce, part, separate, sever, and sunder. While all these words mean "to become or cause to become disunited or disjointed," divide implies separating into pieces or sections by cutting or breaking.

civil war divided the nation

In what contexts can divorce take the place of divide?

The words divorce and divide are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, divorce implies separating two things that commonly interact and belong together.

cannot divorce scientific research from moral responsibility

When can part be used instead of divide?

While in some cases nearly identical to divide, part implies the separating of things or persons in close union or association.

vowed never to part

When would separate be a good substitute for divide?

In some situations, the words separate and divide are roughly equivalent. However, separate may imply any of several causes such as dispersion, removal of one from others, or presence of an intervening thing.

separated her personal life from her career

When might sever be a better fit than divide?

The words sever and divide can be used in similar contexts, but sever implies violence especially in the removal of a part or member.

a severed limb

When is sunder a more appropriate choice than divide?

While the synonyms sunder and divide are close in meaning, sunder suggests violent rending or wrenching apart.

a city sundered by racial conflict

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 divide
Verb
To date, 15 teams have been confirmed, helping to close the divide between the college and professional ranks. Caroline Fitzgerald, Forbes.com, 10 Sep. 2025 That opens the door for opponents of the bill to collect enough signatures within 90 days of its passage to force a statewide vote on the new map, which would divide Kansas City along Troost Avenue, the city’s de facto racial divide created by Jim Crow-era housing policies. Matthew Kelly, Kansas City Star, 10 Sep. 2025
Noun
Whether to extend them — and for how long — is dividing lawmakers, including in Southern California. Kaitlyn Schallhorn, Oc Register, 10 Sep. 2025 Any bills that reach Walz’s desk to be signed into law will require bipartisan support, and the Legislature is narrowly divided. Alex Derosier, Twin Cities, 10 Sep. 2025 See All Example Sentences for divide
Recent Examples of Synonyms for divide
Verb
  • The Anderson classification system for turf toe is split into three grades.
    Julia Jacobo, ABC News, 15 Sep. 2025
  • Plans also call for remodeling the existing southern section into 3,700 square feet of additional commercial space, split evenly between two storefronts.
    Adrienne Davis, jsonline.com, 15 Sep. 2025
Verb
  • But that isn’t separating Texans from their steaks.
    Bud Kennedy, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 10 Sep. 2025
  • Gray loves Catrice Hyper Lash Mascara, which separates lashes for definition, length, volume, and curl.
    Ariana Yaptangco, Glamour, 10 Sep. 2025
Noun
  • The dispute was heard by an arbitrator (and not a judge) because, per SPAC language and accompanying NBPA regulations, player-agent disputes are subject to arbitration.
    Michael McCann, Sportico.com, 12 Sep. 2025
  • The dishwasher was made in America, though there is some dispute over who did it.
    Jeremy Lott, The Washington Examiner, 12 Sep. 2025
Noun
  • Kirk’s rise from a suburban Chicago teenager to the face of the Republican Party’s youth wing reshaped the political landscape and energized a new generation of conservatives.
    Samantha-Jo Roth, The Washington Examiner, 12 Sep. 2025
  • While the motivation behind the killing is still unknown, Kirk's death has escalated anxieties about the rise of political violence in the United States and the deepening divide within American society.
    Giulia Carbonaro, MSNBC Newsweek, 12 Sep. 2025
Verb
  • If time allows, disconnect utilities and appliances.
    NC Weather Bot, Charlotte Observer, 13 Sep. 2025
  • The announcement did not specify when the business would shutter, but when The Denver Post called on Friday morning, the number had already been disconnected.
    Tiney Ricciardi, Denver Post, 12 Sep. 2025
Verb
  • Rain drizzled down most of the day Friday and into the early evening, but before sunset, as Kansas City shredder Samantha Fish was unleashing on guitar, the clouds parted to make way for a vibrant, double rainbow that arched over the entire box canyon.
    Tiney Ricciardi, Denver Post, 16 Sep. 2025
  • Her hair was parted down the middle in loose waves.
    Ingrid Vasquez, PEOPLE, 16 Sep. 2025
Noun
  • Wyatt exited and then returned to the project amid creative fissures, including wrangling over the movie’s tone, pacing, and length.
    Jake Kanter, Deadline, 12 Sep. 2025
  • Trump is facing a catch-22 in the face of growing fissures at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and mounting departures of scientists and experts over vaccine policy.
    Elizabeth Crisp, The Hill, 3 Sep. 2025
Noun
  • According to Dongfang, the behemoth structure will be able to power 55,000 households at peak output and its central hub will stand 606 feet high—roughly twice as tall as the Statue of Liberty.
    Jeff Young, MSNBC Newsweek, 17 Sep. 2025
  • Explore Fall, a website that provides resources and tools to track the changing colors of leaves, is predicting an earlier and quicker fall foliage peak for the millions of people looking to see this year's natural spectacle.
    Kyle Reiman, ABC News, 16 Sep. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Divide.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/divide. Accessed 17 Sep. 2025.

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