scission

noun

ˈsi-zhən How to pronounce scission (audio)
Definition of scissionnext
as in dissolution
the act or process of a whole separating into two or more parts or pieces fears that the scission of the labor union will compromise the workers' bargaining power

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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 scission When the nucleus ultimately disintegrates, these pieces move apart rapidly and the neck snaps quickly, a process known as scission. — Charles Q. Choi, Scientific American, 24 Feb. 2021 The structure is easily broken down in a reaction called scission (like scissors), which tears up the polymer chain. — Caroline Delbert, Popular Mechanics, 5 Aug. 2020 Using IVs that are sanitized between trees, park service workers make a minimally invasive scission in order to treat the tree, according to Jason Gillis, park arborist for National Mall and Memorial Parks. — Paulina Smolinski, USA TODAY, 19 Aug. 2019
Recent Examples of Synonyms for scission
  1. dissolution
  2. split
  3. breakup
  4. partition
  5. division
  6. schism
Noun
  • Hughes stayed with the band for three albums and, after Deep Purple’s dissolution, briefly rejoined Trapeze and released a solo album, Play Me Out, in 1977.
    — Jon Blistein, Rolling Stone, 16 Oct. 2026
  • Amuom said the dissolution had contributed to the insecurity by leaving key local government posts vacant.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 12 Oct. 2026
Definition of dissolution
Noun
  • Somebody introduced the train-test split and started a leaderboard.
    — Quanta Magazine, Quanta Magazine, 16 Oct. 2026
  • The band recorded a third album in 1977 but its label, Columbia, was unimpressed and declined to release it and Pavlov’s Dog split (the album was final issued by German label Rockville some 30 years later).
    — Jem Aswad, Variety, 16 Oct. 2026
Definition of split
Noun
  • Karlaftis and Nohl Williams knocked down passes, and Williams added another breakup before game’s end.
    — Kansas City Star, Kansas City Star, 18 Oct. 2026
  • The fake message, shared alongside images of Fox and an older photograph of the former couple, claimed Kelly was devastated by the breakup and blamed himself for losing her.
    — Danielle Minnetian, FOXNews.com, 17 Oct. 2026
Definition of breakup
Noun
  • The exhibition layout, conceived by French designer Pascal Rodriguez, unfolds across four successive spaces, separated by partition walls pierced by large circular openings at their centers.
    — Sarah Belmont for ArtNews, Robb Report, 14 Oct. 2026
  • Even Doom‘s famous binary-space partition trees can be broken down into SQL using a sort_key for objects that’s pre-computed for each position at load time.
    — Kyle Orland, ArsTechnica, 2 Oct. 2026
Definition of partition
Noun
  • The Jets’ last two division victories came at home in 2024 against New England and Miami, with Jacoby Brissett and Tyler Huntley starting at quarterback for the opposition.
    — Antwan Staley, New York Daily News, 18 Oct. 2026
  • Fundora entered the bout looking toward a chance to unify the 154-pound division, but first had to get past a stubborn mandatory challenger.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 18 Oct. 2026
Definition of division
Noun
  • One schism Hagar would like to repair, of course, is with former bandmate Alex Van Halen.
    — Gary Graff, Billboard, 13 Oct. 2026
  • This is Kubrick’s modus operandi throughout the film, setting up scenes where furniture moves from shot to shot, wall decorations change, and there are further schisms between Ullman’s exposition and the reality that transpires.
    — Jim Hemphill, IndieWire, 9 Oct. 2026
Definition of schism

Browse Nearby Words

scions
scission
scissions
See all Nearby Words

Podcast

Theme music by Joshua Stamper ©2006 New Jerusalem Music/ASCAP

Cite this Entry

“Scission.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/scission. Accessed 21 Oct. 2026.

Copy Citation
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

Listen to the pronunciation of jilt

See Definitions and Examples »

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

'Can' vs. 'May'

'Affect' vs. 'Effect'

More Commonly Mispronounced Words

Is it 'nerve-racking' or 'nerve-wracking'?
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

The Longest Long Words List

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

Did 'orange' the fruit or the color come first?

Even More Bird Names that Sound Like Insults (and Sometimes Are)

12 Lovely and Unusual Words for the Natural World
See More

Popular

See More

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

The Longest Long Words List

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't
See More

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
The Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
artwork of illustrated limes with the text limes and smile with an arrow connecting the two words
Quiz: Spot the Anagram! Scramble these words to find new words with the e...
See All