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
The 474-piece kit includes the princess’ iconic blue dress on a display stand with hidden rooms, accessories, and minifigures for imaginative play. Mia Huelsbeck, PEOPLE, 4 July 2026 James Rodriguez’s set-piece radar was off target for Colombia that night, too. Adam Crafton, New York Times, 4 July 2026
Verb
For now, the Royals are trying to piece their bullpen together. Kansas City Star, 6 June 2026 The original creator opted to piece her garland together by cutting identical slits in the bottom and top of each strip, then sliding them together to create a chain. Sophia Beams, Better Homes & Gardens, 29 May 2026 See All Example Sentences for piece
Recent Examples of Synonyms for piece
Noun
  • Seventy of the dogs were X-rayed on site, and many showed evidence of bullet fragments.
    Thao Nguyen, USA Today, 30 June 2026
  • Multiple fractures with missing fragments, fetlock open and disarticulated, severe soft-tissue damage.
    Ann Manov, Harpers Magazine, 30 June 2026
Noun
  • Sportsbook odds can also reflect risk management and bettor demand, while prediction markets can be influenced by liquidity and trader composition.
    Giovanni Malloy, Forbes.com, 4 July 2026
  • That’s not to mention an upcoming summer of local and national festivities that promises fireworks, parades, bands, speeches, prizes, and commemorative everything, from postage stamps and coins to musical compositions.
    Brenda Wineapple, The New York Review of Books, 4 July 2026
Noun
  • He has been charged with first-degree murder and felony firearm.
    Christina Coulter, PEOPLE, 4 July 2026
  • Law enforcement later searched two locations in connection with the investigation into Hidrogo including a storage facility in Fort Worth where officers found 244 kilograms of meth with a purity level of 100 percent and more firearms.
    Fousia Abdullahi, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 4 July 2026
Noun
  • Damaged or bruised portions of fruits and vegetables should be cut away, or the produce should be discarded, and produce should generally be refrigerated within two hours of purchase, per MCHD.
    Angel Saunders, PEOPLE, 30 June 2026
  • Temperatures are expected to climb into the 90s across a large portion of the central and eastern United States, with some communities seeing multiple days of hot and humid conditions before the Fourth of July holiday weekend arrives.
    Janet Loehrke, USA Today, 30 June 2026
Verb
  • Such strategies include building green roofs and courtyards to help with shading and air circulation, and using dense materials such as concrete or brick that can stabilize indoor temperatures in heat.
    Ignacio Calderon, USA Today, 3 July 2026
  • The latest work uses that capability to scan the space above a chip and build a detailed electromagnetic map.
    Aamir Khollam, Interesting Engineering, 3 July 2026
Noun
  • This pacing problem extends to subplots like the Henry-in-a-coma bit.
    Erik Kain, Forbes.com, 5 July 2026
  • Scientists pointed out that the abrasion bit the rover used to expose the rocks was sterilized before launch and has cut into other rocks across Jezero without ever producing a G-band this strong.
    Jacek Krywko, ArsTechnica, 4 July 2026
Noun
  • Roth was placed on administrative leave but returned to work shortly afterward, according to the lawsuit.
    Ruben Vives, Los Angeles Times, 30 June 2026
  • Considering flight attendants spend the majority of their week living out of a suitcase, their luggage has to be truly top-tier—capable of holding all of their work essentials, personal items, and more without missing a beat.
    Julia Morlino, Travel + Leisure, 30 June 2026
Noun
  • Officials said the gun violence took place from May 2025 to late April 2026 in a swath of the South Bronx.
    Leonard Greene, New York Daily News, 30 June 2026
  • The man had a gun and refused to drop it when ordered to by police, the sheriff said.
    Angie DiMichele, Sun Sentinel, 30 June 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Piece.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/piece. Accessed 6 Jul. 2026.

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