SPLIT Synonyms: 172 Similar and Opposite Words

Q: 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

Q: 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

Q: 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

Q: 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

Q: 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

Q: 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

split 1 of 3

verb

ˈsplit

Definition of split

as in to divide

to set or force apart You should split logs now for a winter's supply of wood.

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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

as in fissure

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

Synonyms & Similar Words

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

In other news, LIV Golf suffered a haymaker amid its bankruptcy mess, with Jon Rahm officially opting to split with the league as its future remains entirely up in the air. — Mark Harris Outkick, FOXNews.com, 12 Oct. 2026 The novel’s alternate realities are split like a nightmarish LP — the party in Silver Lake pops off on the A-side where, soon, most territories will be contested, and militias and gunfire will become ubiquitous. — Emily St. Martin, Los Angeles Times, 12 Oct. 2026

Noun

Warren’s outstanding play has changed the Steelers’ original plan of a 50/50 backfield split. — Dalton Del Don, New York Times, 15 Oct. 2026 The league withholds 10% of players’ salaries during the season in escrow, and after BRI is calculated, a portion of that is returned to ensure the proper revenue split between players and owners. — Lev Akabas, Sportico.com, 15 Oct. 2026

Adjective

One of the more thoughtful design decisions is the split outlet arrangement. — Michael Lydick, PC Magazine, 9 Oct. 2026 More than a dozen members of The Athletic’s MLB staff turned in their votes, and their opinions were fairly split, with Milwaukee barely outpacing the two-time defending champions. — The Athletic Mlb Staff, New York Times, 9 Oct. 2026 See All Example Sentences for split

Recent Examples of Synonyms for split

Verb

In the case of Yemen, the ground fighters inside the country who are taking on the Houthis are deeply divided and fought each other as recently as January.

— ABC News, ABC News, 17 Oct. 2026
Forty years ago, Ronald Reagan and Mikhail Gorbachev met at Höfði House, representing rival nuclear superpowers divided by decades of distrust.

— Halla Tómasdóttir, Time, 16 Oct. 2026

Definition of divide

Noun

In the show, the crew encounters a white hole spewing time and space into the universe, and the only way to close it is for Lister to play space pool, sinking a planet into the interdimensional fissure via an over-elaborate trick shot.

— Richard Edwards, Space.com, 10 Oct. 2026
Once moored, a boardwalk leads through old-growth forest to the fault itself, where ocean water is drawn in, heated up high and released through fissures in the rock.

— Adrienne Matei, Condé Nast Traveler, 10 Oct. 2026

Definition of fissure

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

Adjective

Democratic wins for governor in November could bring divided power to Alaska, Ohio, Georgia, Florida and Texas.

— Kevin Hardy, Chicago Tribune, 8 Oct. 2026
The stoneware dishes, with their childlike design, candy-colored glazes, and divided compartments, might jog formative memories of Montessori sorting trays or vintage TV dinners.

— Maya Ibbitson, Architectural Digest, 7 Oct. 2026

Definition of divided

Verb

We are connected across continents in milliseconds, but too often separated by fear, anger, and mistrust.

— Halla Tómasdóttir, Time, 16 Oct. 2026
Initially, Jessie’s overriding goal was simply to win back playtime with Bonnie, especially after becoming separated from her during a dance class.

— Davide Abbatescianni, Variety, 16 Oct. 2026

Definition of separate

Noun

The Tanana River in the background is flowing high, and most of the area between the river and the Bluff sparkles as sun rays glisten on the thousands of small pools and ponds that fill every dip and crevice in the land surface.

— Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 16 Oct. 2026
Some of these hunters spend hours in hopes of spotting a miniature ceramic smiley face peeking out of a crevice.

— Camila Pedrosa, Sacbee.com, 12 Oct. 2026

Definition of crevice

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

Verb

The Clean Energy Choice Act, introduced by Assemblymember Marc Berman (D-Menlo Park), requires utilities to offer homeowners a financial incentive to disconnect from gas and electrify the home when gas service line repairs are scheduled.

— Molly McCrea, CBS News, 16 Oct. 2026
The team also demonstrated that the sheet could reconstruct its overall shape even after some fibers were cut or disconnected.

— Aamir Khollam, Interesting Engineering, 9 Oct. 2026

Definition of disconnect

Browse Nearby Words

splints

split

split hairs

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“Split.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/split. Accessed 20 Oct. 2026.

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Synonyms of split

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noun

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Synonyms of split

verb

noun

adjective

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Phrases Containing split

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Cite this Entry

More from Merriam-Webster on split

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

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

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Games & Quizzes