Synonym Chooser

How is the word member distinct from other similar nouns?

Some common synonyms of member are division, fragment, part, piece, portion, section, and segment. While all these words mean "something less than the whole," member suggests one of the functional units composing a body.

a structural member

In what contexts can division take the place of member?

While in some cases nearly identical to member, division applies to a large or diversified part.

the manufacturing division of the company

When is fragment a more appropriate choice than member?

Although the words fragment and member have much in common, fragment applies to a part produced by or as if by breaking off.

only a fragment of the play still exists

When is it sensible to use part instead of member?

The words part and member are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, part is a general term appropriate when indefiniteness is required.

they ran only part of the way

When would piece be a good substitute for member?

While the synonyms piece and member are close in meaning, piece applies to a separate or detached part of a whole.

a puzzle with 500 pieces

Where would portion be a reasonable alternative to member?

In some situations, the words portion and member are roughly equivalent. However, portion implies an assigned or allotted part.

cut the pie into six portions

When can section be used instead of member?

The words section and member can be used in similar contexts, but section applies to a relatively small or uniform part.

the entertainment section of the newspaper

When might segment be a better fit than member?

The meanings of segment and member largely overlap; however, segment applies to a part separated or marked out by or as if by natural lines of cleavage.

the retired segment of the population

Examples 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 member And then there was Liam Payne, a member of boy-band sensation One Direction. Lee Cowan, CBS News, 29 Dec. 2024 Castillo Armas, the murderer of Guatemalan democracy, would himself be assassinated by a member of his own presidential guard in 1957. Matthew Wills, JSTOR Daily, 29 Dec. 2024 On a tall bluff that overlooks the south Puget Sound in one direction and sparkling headlights on I-5 in another, members of the Nisqually Indian Tribe gathered for a Winter Moon Celebration on this soggy solstice. Anna King, NPR, 29 Dec. 2024 He was located by members of The U.S. Marshals Violent Fugitive Task Force in Puerto Rico on Nov. 23 and taken into custody. Staff Reports, Hartford Courant, 29 Dec. 2024 See all Example Sentences for member 
Recent Examples of Synonyms for member
Noun
  • There’s also a likely component of wanting to right the wrongs of the last two postseasons, which ended with a loss at Highmark Stadium, first to the Bengals two years ago and again last year to the Chiefs.
    Joe Buscaglia, The Athletic, 27 Dec. 2024
  • Use monitoring solutions that track changes immediately and alert the team when updates impact critical components, helping maintain a consistent view of application health.
    Sameer Malhotra, Forbes, 27 Dec. 2024
Noun
  • Save a portion of your peak-season earnings to cover the slower months.
    Melissa Houston, Forbes, 21 Dec. 2024
  • The Rain Forest portion of the spa features heated seats, a chilled room for cryotherapy, and an outdoor portion with swings, day beds, and a hot tub.
    Leslie D. Rose, Parents, 20 Dec. 2024
Noun
  • The show suggests that Ailey worked in ways similar to Valentim—both were reaching back in time, retrieving elements of Africa’s past via abstraction.
    Alex Greenberger, ARTnews.com, 19 Dec. 2024
  • This measure incorporates elements such as wind speed, air temperature and humidity.
    Benedict Cosgrove, Newsweek, 19 Dec. 2024
Noun
  • Burns was killed in Ohio following a carjacking at a West Virginia mall by Basham and Fulks as part of a deadly weekslong crime spree through multiple states after escaping from a jail in Hopkins County, Kentucky.
    Ramsey Touchberry, Washington Examiner - Political News and Conservative Analysis About Congress, the President, and the Federal Government, 27 Dec. 2024
  • As part of your plan, consider taking the following steps.
    Danielle Sinay, Glamour, 27 Dec. 2024
Noun
  • Many gore-enjoyers resent how the glistening variety has diluted the vampire’s fear factor.
    Maya Ibbitson, Architectural Digest, 23 Dec. 2024
  • And when money is little to no object, the convenience factor goes up exponentially.
    Peter Nelson, The Verge, 23 Dec. 2024
Noun
  • Stephan Grupp, section chief of cellular therapy and transplant at the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, says doctors will likely need to secure a single case agreement from insurers on behalf of their patients.
    Emily Mullin, WIRED, 23 Dec. 2024
  • Other sections of Act 372 went into effect in 2023.
    Worth Sparkman, Axios, 23 Dec. 2024
Noun
  • Add some kumquat or lime juice to the shrimp paste to balance things out, then feel free to dip any combination of ingredients into the sauce.
    Christina Liao, Vogue, 27 Dec. 2024
  • The Paula’s Choice Pro-Collagen Peptide Plumping Moisturizer features ingredients that deliver long-lasting hydration while promoting collagen, elastin, and protein production to plump the skin and improve elasticity and bounce visibly.
    Julia Teti, WWD, 27 Dec. 2024
Noun
  • As a result, the residential recycling segment of his business is rapidly growing, said Putegnat, 51.
    Rick Jervis, USA TODAY, 18 Dec. 2024
  • The anchor usually talks to his subjects for about 45 minutes to an hour, and then edits the conversation into a segment that lasts 7 and a half to 8 minutes.
    Brian Steinberg, Variety, 18 Dec. 2024

Thesaurus Entries Near member

Cite this Entry

“Member.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/member. Accessed 4 Jan. 2025.

More from Merriam-Webster on member

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