as in slivers
a small sharp piece of something (such as glass or pottery)
Watch out for the shards of glass on the floor.
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Recent Examples of shards
Surely there was something more beneath all this mild pleasantness, some edge of resentment, a few shards of indignation on the brink of cutting through.
—
Literary Hub, 1 Apr. 2026
Cristobal’s arc can use a mite more variance overall, but her playing of Margot’s inner-torture from having to live with the literal shards of blood on her neck is effective.
—David John Chávez, Mercury News, 27 Mar. 2026
Most of those issues have been from oil, lubrication, other or casing or shards inside the engines.
—Joel Feder, The Drive, 26 Mar. 2026
In a viral video of the aftermath, the robot jerks back and forth to shake the glass off, showering yet more dangerous shards onto the sidewalk.
—Frank Landymore, Futurism, 26 Mar. 2026
Another video of the incident — posted on Reddit and taken in what appears to be the moments immediately following the collision — shows the robot slowly removing itself from the scene of the crash, shards of glass falling off its lid with each scooch.
—Talia Soglin, Chicago Tribune, 26 Mar. 2026
Cut into individual pieces or break into rustic shards.
—Marianne Williams, Southern Living, 14 Mar. 2026
Another 57 people were being treated for minor injuries, mostly from glass shards.
—Npr Staff, NPR, 13 Mar. 2026
While still bleeding profusely from his head, the officer can be seen returning fire at Husien as bullets slam into the car and shatter its windows, raining shards of glass on the officer.
—Aldo Toledo, San Francisco Chronicle, 2 Mar. 2026
Literary Hub, 1 Apr. 2026
Cristobal’s arc can use a mite more variance overall, but her playing of Margot’s inner-torture from having to live with the literal shards of blood on her neck is effective.
—David John Chávez, Mercury News, 27 Mar. 2026
Most of those issues have been from oil, lubrication, other or casing or shards inside the engines.
—Joel Feder, The Drive, 26 Mar. 2026
In a viral video of the aftermath, the robot jerks back and forth to shake the glass off, showering yet more dangerous shards onto the sidewalk.
—Frank Landymore, Futurism, 26 Mar. 2026
Another video of the incident — posted on Reddit and taken in what appears to be the moments immediately following the collision — shows the robot slowly removing itself from the scene of the crash, shards of glass falling off its lid with each scooch.
—Talia Soglin, Chicago Tribune, 26 Mar. 2026
Cut into individual pieces or break into rustic shards.
—Marianne Williams, Southern Living, 14 Mar. 2026
Another 57 people were being treated for minor injuries, mostly from glass shards.
—Npr Staff, NPR, 13 Mar. 2026
While still bleeding profusely from his head, the officer can be seen returning fire at Husien as bullets slam into the car and shatter its windows, raining shards of glass on the officer.
—Aldo Toledo, San Francisco Chronicle, 2 Mar. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for shards
Noun
-
How much America’s Culinary Cup relies on head-to-head cook-offs to send people home gives all those slivers of information a little more urgency, though.—
Roxana Hadadi,
Vulture,
12 Mar. 2026
-
On the tea-time menu that Wednesday is Vazhakkai Bajji, green plantain slivers folded into spicy chickpea batter, deep-fried a crisp orange-brown and presented on a banana leaf with a coconut dipping chutney on the side.—
Kalpana Mohan,
Mercury News,
4 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
Some of the fragments were recovered in Ohio and Texas.—
Briana Alvarado,
ABC News,
30 Mar. 2026
-
Ready-to-eat pizza and focaccia are also being recalled over possible metal fragments, including those sold by Trader Joe's, Hello Fresh and more.—
Kristin Scharkey,
USA Today,
30 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
Humans can breathe them in via particles in the air or ingest them through food and water.—
Erika Edwards,
NBC news,
2 Apr. 2026
-
There are many potential triggers that can cause these symptoms, including particles in the air such as mold spores, dust, and certain chemicals.—
Lindsay Dodgson,
SELF,
2 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
Keep an eye out for tiny brown or orange specks, especially around door edges, undercarriage, and seams.—
Jenna Prestininzi,
Freep.com,
25 Mar. 2026
-
Keep an eye out for tiny brown or orange specks, especially around door edges, undercarriage and seams.—
Jenna Prestininzi,
USA Today,
25 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
Berber carpet Berber is a type of loop pile carpet with flecks of color.—
Faith Wakefield,
USA Today,
12 Mar. 2026
-
Using x-ray fluorescence spectrometry, scholars determined that the ancient off-white fluid was composed of calcite, huntite, and miniscule flecks of yellow orpiment, a highly toxic sulfide of arsenic that Egyptians also used in medicine to treat syphilis and malaria.—
News Desk,
Artforum,
9 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
But there are glimmers of hope beyond the carnage, too.—
Alison Foreman,
IndieWire,
30 Mar. 2026
-
Following three straight 100-loss seasons that led to a front-office house cleaning, Rockies fans are peering down the road for glimmers of hope.—
Kyle Newman,
Denver Post,
26 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
The dramatist’s mode is broader and brasher, calculated for the sweep of the stage rather than the close-up, with splashes of color and humor that can verge on camp.—
Sara Holdren,
Vulture,
31 Mar. 2026
-
Each one is about the size of a tennis ball, yellow in color with splashes of red, and covered in wart-like bumps, thus the name.—
Ari Daniel,
NPR,
31 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
Loaded Mac fits its name with bacon bits, cheddar jack, blue cheese crumbles, green onions and sour cream.—
Lori Punko,
Denver Post,
3 Apr. 2026
-
During a May appointment, the mother reported finding bits of dog food in the child’s bowel movement.—
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
3 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Shards.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/shards. Accessed 6 Apr. 2026.
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