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to splinter

to splinter

11 6.2
To leave a group and form a smaller, separate one often after disagreement
  • verb
  • /ˈsplɪntər/
translation icon : separarse (de)
  • Increasing tensions within the organization led some employees to splinter away and create a rival company.
  • splintered party
  • splintered coalition
  • splintered opposition

Society has splintered into all sorts of groups.

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Examples

  • The debate over the new policy caused the committee to splinter into opposing factions.

  • By doing this, Luther also starts a process that splinters Christianity into a million pieces.

  • Bad things only happen to people that splinter off from the group.

  • Society has splintered into all sorts of groups.

  • During the violence, the major newspapers splintered and took sides.

    Academic text (2009)
  • Given these incentives, radical parties are usually expected to either moderate or to splinter into irrelevance.

    Academic text (2013)
  • Partly because of this history, Palestinian society has splintered into many different political, religious, and ideological factions.

    Academic text (2009)
  • Over the years, however, these groups have splintered into factions, some of which refuse to acknowledge these nonviolent reforms.

    Academic text (2010)
  • Our clan, the Plain Janes, has splintered and the pieces are being absorbed by rival factions.

    Fiction book (1999)
  • After a major disagreement, several members decided to splinter from the political party and form their own group.

Synonyms

to leave
vsto splinter
1.0

To go away from a place, person, or group

often involves a small group splitting off because of disagreement rather than simple departure
to separate
vsto splinter
481 2.9

To move apart or stop being together

is specifically a faction leaving because of disagreement, not just any separation
to withdraw
vsto splinter
466 2.8

To stop taking part in a place or activity

is usually a clear break caused by disagreement rather than gradual disengagement
to pull out of
vsto splinter
79 3.2

Leave an activity or agreement you had joined

is generally a conflict-driven split forming a new group, not merely stopping participation
to defect
vsto splinter
60 7.1

To leave your country or group to join a rival

involves leaving because of disagreement but not always joining the opposition
to secede
vsto splinter
  • Formal
34 8.5

To leave a group or country and stop being part of it

is usually a smaller group leaving over disagreement rather than formal political action
to break away
vsto splinter
30 4.1

To leave an organization and form a separate group

is usually a group leaving because of disagreement rather than planned separation
to break off
vsto splinter
28 2.8

To make a piece come away from something by hitting or bending it

is mainly a disagreement-driven withdrawal to create a new group, not just detachment
to disassociate
vsto splinter
16 7.0

To end a connection with a person, group, or idea

tends to involve creating a new faction after disagreement, not only ending ties
to dissociate
vsto splinter
3 6.7

To stop being involved with a person, group, or idea

usually implies leaving to form a new group after disagreement, not just distancing
to peel off
vsto splinter
3 4.1

To leave a group and move away in a different direction

often refers to a disagreement-driven split forming an independent group, not mere movement
to disaffiliate
vsto splinter
  • Formal
1 7.5

To stop being a member of a group or organization

is typically a factional split caused by disagreement rather than mere formal exit
to hive off
vsto splinter
  • Jargon
8.0

To separate part of a company to make it an independent business

is more often an organized planned separation than a conflict-driven split

Antonyms

1.0

Become a member of a group or take part in its activities

Compounds

A small group that leaves a larger group because its members disagree

How Divided

to secede
  • Formal
34 8.5
split
9 4.2
to splinter
11 6.2
to withdraw
466 2.8
to leave
1.0

Surface Forms

splinter infinitive
splintered past
splintered past participle
splintering present participle
splinters third person singular

Etymology

The word splinter uses the image of split ('to break'), like a tiny piece breaking off from a board. So to splinter (or splinter off) is to break away from a group or organization.