splintering
Cracking into pieces
Splintering is the process of breaking into sharp, thin fragments.
Wood splinters when struck or stressed along its grain.
The word extends to any fragmentation: a splintering coalition, the splintering of a political party into factions.
Glass, bone, and organizations can all be described as splintering when they break apart into pieces.
Breaking without separating completely
- shatteringBreaking violently apart
- snappingBreaking with sharp sound
- splittingDividing into parts
- fracturingProcess of breaking
rupturing · cleaving · tearing · rending · bursting · severing · fissuring · giving way
Process of breaking
- splittingDividing into parts
- fragmentingBreaking into smaller pieces
- dividingSeparating into parts
- schismFormal organizational fracture
factionalism · sectarianism · polarization · discord · disunity · separation · rift · breakaway
Thin split-off piece
- shardBroken fragment of something brittle
- chipSmall broken-off piece
- fragmentIncomplete portion of whole
- shiverInvoluntary trembling sensation
spall · needle · spike · wood chip · sharp edge · debris · particle · flake
Breaking into smaller pieces
- crumblingBreaking down gradually
- disintegrationProcess of breaking apart
- dissolutionBreaking up completely
- decompositionBreakdown into simpler parts
atomization · falling apart · breaking down · deterioration · erosion · decay · degradation · dispersal
cracking
Breaking without separating completely
- shatteringBreaking violently apart
- snappingBreaking with sharp sound
- splittingDividing into parts
fracturing · rupturing · cleaving · tearing · rending · bursting · severing · fissuring · giving way · stress fracture
fracturing
Process of breaking
- splittingDividing into parts
- fragmentingBreaking into smaller pieces
- dividingSeparating into parts
schism · factionalism · sectarianism · polarization · discord · disunity · separation · rift · breakaway · dissolution
sliver
Thin split-off piece
- shardBroken fragment of something brittle
- chipSmall broken-off piece
- fragmentIncomplete portion of whole
shiver · spall · needle · spike · wood chip · sharp edge · debris · particle · flake · shred
fragmentation
Breaking into smaller pieces
- crumblingBreaking down gradually
- disintegrationProcess of breaking apart
- dissolutionBreaking up completely
decomposition · atomization · falling apart · breaking down · deterioration · erosion · decay · degradation · dispersal · scattering
- breakingbreaking, cracking, fracturing, rupturing, shattering
- breaking downsplitting, fragmenting, dividing, breaking up, partitioning
- damagebreakage, break, crack, fracture, dent
- deterioratingdecaying, decomposing, degrading, rotting, eroding
- separatingseparating, detaching, disconnecting, dividing, splitting
- Fragmentationfragmentation, balkanization, breakup, disintegration, dismemberment
splinteringfusing
Joining by melting
holding together · bonding · joining · unifying · consolidating
splinteringmelting
Solid-to-liquid transition
bending · flexing · deforming · yielding · stretching
splinteringunifying
Making disparate elements one
uniting · consolidating · coalescing · merging · coming together
splinter, splinters, splint, splintered, splintery, splints, unsplintered