sunder

Split in two

Sunder means to split apart or sever, especially violently or completely.

The word is literary and archaic, appearing mostly in phrases like torn asunder or rent asunder: The earthquake sundered the highway.

What is sundered was once whole and is now permanently divided.

physical

cleave

Split or adhere

severCut apart completely
splitSeparation into parts
rendTear apart violently

tear · fracture · break · crack · snap · shatter · rupture · slice · cut · hew

separation

divide

Separate into parts

partitionBarrier separating spaces
separateTo set apart
detachTo separate from

disconnect · disjoin · disunite · bisect · halve · segment · dissect · carve · subdivide · decouple

relational

estrangement

Emotional separation between people

alienationState of being isolated
riftCrack or estrangement
schismFormal organizational fracture

discord · disunion · breach · rupture · division · separation · disaffection · disconnection · detachment · isolation

Categories

separationseparate, sieving, straining, divide, filtration
separationsseparate, split, break up, parting, sever
split offbreak up, spinoff, spin-off, detach, sever

Opposites

physical separation vs. connection

sunderjoin

Connect or enlist

unite · connect · fuse · weld · attach

relational or abstract division vs. unity

sunderunite

Bring together as one

unify · join · bond · bind · merge

Phrases

all and sundryAll people collectively

Family

sundry, asunder, sundries, sunders, sundered, sundering

Familiarity: Top 500,000
Profile: Used worldwide · Timeless · Negative · Everyday, not technical · Rated G