cleavages

noun

plural of cleavage
as in splits
the act or process of a whole separating into two or more parts or pieces the cleavages of an egg as an embryo develops

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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 cleavages The cartoonist and journalist Joe Sacco has made a career of rescuing history from the cleavages of memory. — Robert Rubsam, The Atlantic, 18 Dec. 2025 Intelligence agencies in the United States and other Western countries closely follow these cleavages, of course, and can sometimes recruit the disaffected or the ambitious to provide insider information. — Stephen Kotkin, Foreign Affairs, 16 Dec. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for cleavages
  1. splits
  2. divisions
  3. dissolutions
  4. partitions
  5. breakups
  6. schisms
  7. separations
Noun
  • Naturally, Vicki does not participate in any of the gyrating or the splits that Kyle and Lisa dutifully show off.
    — Louis Peitzman, Vulture, 17 Aug. 2026
  • The two met on the film’s set in 2024, following their respective splits from spouses Dalton Gomez and Lilly Jay.
    — Entertainment Weekly, Entertainment Weekly, 13 Aug. 2026
Definition of splits
Noun
  • Some fans reflected that Parton represented a different era of America, one that wasn’t defined by political divisions and partisanship.
    — Rachel Hale, USA Today, 25 Aug. 2026
  • Dow and DuPont combined their agricultural divisions into Corteva, while China National Chemical Corporation bought Syngenta, then merged it with Sinochem’s farm assets.
    — Catherina Gioino, Fortune, 25 Aug. 2026
Definition of divisions
Noun
  • Moms for Liberty’s influence has been on a long decline in its home state as the organization faced a wave of resignations, chapter dissolutions and scandals among Moms for Liberty leadership.
    — Trinity Webster-Bass, Miami Herald, 21 July 2026
  • The trailer teased screaming matches, tears, accusations of betrayal and clear dissolutions of multiple relationships — both romantic and platonic.
    — Pilar Melendez, NBC news, 27 May 2026
Definition of dissolutions
Noun
  • These booths with partitions that closed you off from the nearby tables.
    — Emma Cline, New Yorker, 9 Aug. 2026
  • On the eight trading floors, the company installed custom partitions and operational furnishings built to meet the demands of high-performance financial operations.
    — Sofia Celeste, Footwear News, 13 July 2026
Definition of partitions
Noun
  • Hunter finished his rookie campaign with only 28 catches, 298 yards and one touchdown on offense, with three pass breakups and 15 total tackles on defense.
    — Jeff Howe, New York Times, 21 Aug. 2026
  • Toure led Miami last season with 84 tackles and also had six pass breakups, three tackles for loss and two sacks.
    — Jordan McPherson, Miami Herald, 20 Aug. 2026
Definition of breakups
Noun
  • Yet since she was rescued in bad shape in mid-July and transferred to the Ojai Raptor Center for treatment, schisms have formed.
    — Lila Seidman, Los Angeles Times, 20 Aug. 2026
  • But the Kirtland church community soon experienced schisms and conflicts over doctrine, money and authority.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 6 Aug. 2026
Definition of schisms
Noun
  • Through first-person testimonies and family photos from California communities, the show confronts family separations, civil-liberties violations and the long shadow of deportation campaigns on Mexican American life.
    — Isa Farfan, Los Angeles Times, 24 Aug. 2026
  • This means that small separations between objects can become huge down the line — the telltale sign of chaos.
    — Shalma Wegsman, Quanta Magazine, 12 Aug. 2026
Definition of separations

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Cite this Entry

“Cleavages.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/cleavages. Accessed 26 Aug. 2026.

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