split 1 of 3

verb

ˈsplit How to pronounce split (audio)
Definition of splitnext
1
as in to divide
to set or force apart You should split logs now for a winter's supply of wood.

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in to polarize
to cause (people) to break up into opposing groups The party split over which tax policy to endorse.

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

split

2 of 3

noun

1
as in fissure
an irregular usually narrow break in a surface created by pressure an earthquake left a split in the ground

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2
as in breakup
the act or process of a whole separating into two or more parts or pieces the split of the group into two factions marked the beginning of the end of the organization

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

split

3 of 3

adjective

as in divided
disagreeing with each other opinions are split on the subject

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Synonym Chooser

How is the word split different from other verbs like it?

Some common synonyms of split are cleave, rend, rip, rive, and tear. While all these words mean "to separate forcibly," split implies a cutting or breaking apart in a continuous, straight, and usually lengthwise direction or in the direction of grain or layers.

split logs for firewood

When is cleave a more appropriate choice than split?

While the synonyms cleave and split are close in meaning, cleave implies very forceful splitting or cutting with a blow.

a bolt of lightning cleaved the giant oak

When might rend be a better fit than split?

In some situations, the words rend and split are roughly equivalent. However, rend implies very violent or ruthless severing or sundering.

an angry mob rent the prisoner's clothes

When can rip be used instead of split?

The words rip and split are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, rip implies a pulling apart in one rapid uninterrupted motion often along a line or joint.

ripped the shirt on a nail

When would rive be a good substitute for split?

The synonyms rive and split are sometimes interchangeable, but rive occurs most often in figurative use.

a political party riven by conflict

When could tear be used to replace split?

The words tear and split can be used in similar contexts, but tear implies pulling apart by force and leaving jagged edges.

tear up the letter

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 split
Verb
Rush and Strand are expected to split snaps during 11-on-11s. — ABC News, 29 July 2026 British lawyer Cyril Radcliffe, who arrived in India for the first time in July 1947, was tasked with splitting the region into two—thus deciding on which side of the new border millions of people would find themselves. — Encyclopedia Britannica, 29 July 2026
Noun
The Athletic’s Dennis Lin said on X that the split would be about 50-50, including the $1 million trade bonus. — Sean Campbell, Sacbee.com, 3 Aug. 2026 Following the split, Riddle announced she was done dating athletes. — Sean Joseph Outkick, FOXNews.com, 2 Aug. 2026
Adjective
Zambia’s concurrent voting system allows voters to cast separate ballots for the presidency and the parliament, creating the possibility of split-ticket voting. — Tiisetso Motsoeneng, semafor.com, 29 July 2026 For the past 15 years, Bruce has offered a split reward totaling $100,000 in Joyce’s case, $60,000 for information that leads to an arrest, and $40,000 for information that leads to a conviction. — Yana Johnson, NBC news, 29 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for split
Recent Examples of Synonyms for split
  1. divide
  2. fissure
  3. breakup
  4. divided
  5. separate
  6. crevice
  7. partition
  8. disconnect
Verb
  • Pezeshkian and his camp have pushed back, portraying IRIB as dividing the country at the time of war.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 2 Aug. 2026
  • Later on Friday, Infantino said the plan was to strengthen such bodies, not divide world soccer.
    — Dennis Romero, NBC news, 1 Aug. 2026
Definition of divide
Noun
  • Another fissure appeared, slicing a haphazard path through its pale-blue heart.
    — Brian Truitt, USA Today, 27 July 2026
  • While effective in winning the war, the new government faced social and political fissures in the postwar period.
    — Donovan Fifield, The Conversation, 16 July 2026
Definition of fissure
Noun
  • The breakup followed reports of turmoil between the two, many of them detailing how the couple was trying to work through things and do right by their 7-month-old daughter.
    — Jessica Schladebeck, New York Daily News, 1 Aug. 2026
  • That stopped Saturday, starting with the two interceptions, a pair of fumbles, one pass breakup and a few would-be sacks.
    — Andrew Callahan, Boston Herald, 1 Aug. 2026
Definition of breakup
Adjective
  • With three divided sections, hosts can put several types of dip on one tray and ensure none of them are touching.
    — BestReviews, Mercury News, 3 Aug. 2026
  • Social media read it differently and immediately, with users asking whether the Academy had just created divided categories by another name.
    — Olivia Shalhoup, Forbes.com, 2 Aug. 2026
Definition of divided
Verb
  • Carroll built his home in 2009 directly behind the park, separated only by a fence.
    — Charlotte Observer, Charlotte Observer, 1 Aug. 2026
  • Bunion Bootie is an ultra-thin, soft fabric big-toe alignment sleeve that fits comfortably inside your shoes, with a lightweight, breathable, second-skin design that separates the big toe from the second.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 1 Aug. 2026
Definition of separate
Noun
  • Hard-to-reach grooves and corners often require extra scrubbing, so Harris recommends keeping a crevice cleaning brush on hand.
    — Toni Sutton, PEOPLE, 30 July 2026
  • Grab your soft brush and gently sweep any dust out of hard-to-reach crevices (think carved detailing, small corners, or shelving joints).
    — Caroline Lubinsky, Martha Stewart, 23 July 2026
Definition of crevice
Noun
  • Cracking India, or Ice-Candy-Man (1988) First published in the United Kingdom as Ice-Candy-Man in 1988 and reissued as Cracking India in the United States in 1991, this novel by Bapsi Sidhwa is regarded as a foundational partition narrative.
    — Encyclopedia Britannica, Encyclopedia Britannica, 29 July 2026
  • Alice questions Mira while Frank mutters completely unhelpful asides from behind the glass partition.
    — Erin Qualey, Vulture, 28 July 2026
Definition of partition
Verb
  • Embraced by a number of celebrities since its debut, the silhouette might present a bit of an optical illusion upon first glance, appearing as if two sides of the pump are disconnected in the front.
    — Jaden Thompson, Footwear News, 31 July 2026
  • In her experience, disengagement is usually the result of people feeling unheard, undervalued or disconnected from the purpose behind their work.
    — Barnaby Lashbrooke, Forbes.com, 31 July 2026
Definition of disconnect

Phrases Containing split

Browse Nearby Words

splints
split
split hairs
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Cite this Entry

“Split.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/split. Accessed 5 Aug. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on split

Nglish: Translation of split for Spanish Speakers

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about split

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