1
as in separating
to set or force apart
volunteers divided the donated groceries into several dozen piles
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in diverging
to go or move in different directions from a central point
the group divided based on those who wanted to go swimming and those who didn't
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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 dividing
The University of Massachusetts poll, fielded among 1,000 Americans, found 74% believe there are more things uniting them than dividing them.
—
Karissa Waddick, USA Today, 25 Apr. 2026
Michelle Boudreau Design mixed a white dividing wall with hedges that don't block the view of palm trees in this desert backyard.
—Kristin Hohenadel, The Spruce, 24 Apr. 2026
Yarrow benefits from dividing every two to three years to maintain vigor.
—Kim Toscano, Southern Living, 23 Apr. 2026
The team found that the cells lining these vessels had entered a state of cellular senescence, a form of premature cellular aging in which cells stop dividing and release a mix of inflammatory signals that can damage surrounding tissue.
—Khloe Quill, FOXNews.com, 22 Apr. 2026
If the game stopped at this point, Fermat’s method for dividing the pot would list all possible outcomes of those five coin flips and then tally the ones that amassed 10 points for each player.
—Jack Murtagh, Scientific American, 19 Apr. 2026
His plans and designs preserved the Mansion by dividing it into four condominium units.
—James Alexander, Hartford Courant, 19 Apr. 2026
The other’s a Philippine peninsula that fronts Manila Bay, with a mountainous spine dividing dense jungle.
—Michael Peregrine, Chicago Tribune, 17 Apr. 2026
Ebus added that interest in Venezuela is already dividing potential investors, with smaller risk-taking firms eager to enter while major companies remain cautious.
—Antonio María Delgado, Miami Herald, 9 Apr. 2026
Karissa Waddick, USA Today, 25 Apr. 2026
Michelle Boudreau Design mixed a white dividing wall with hedges that don't block the view of palm trees in this desert backyard.
—Kristin Hohenadel, The Spruce, 24 Apr. 2026
Yarrow benefits from dividing every two to three years to maintain vigor.
—Kim Toscano, Southern Living, 23 Apr. 2026
The team found that the cells lining these vessels had entered a state of cellular senescence, a form of premature cellular aging in which cells stop dividing and release a mix of inflammatory signals that can damage surrounding tissue.
—Khloe Quill, FOXNews.com, 22 Apr. 2026
If the game stopped at this point, Fermat’s method for dividing the pot would list all possible outcomes of those five coin flips and then tally the ones that amassed 10 points for each player.
—Jack Murtagh, Scientific American, 19 Apr. 2026
His plans and designs preserved the Mansion by dividing it into four condominium units.
—James Alexander, Hartford Courant, 19 Apr. 2026
The other’s a Philippine peninsula that fronts Manila Bay, with a mountainous spine dividing dense jungle.
—Michael Peregrine, Chicago Tribune, 17 Apr. 2026
Ebus added that interest in Venezuela is already dividing potential investors, with smaller risk-taking firms eager to enter while major companies remain cautious.
—Antonio María Delgado, Miami Herald, 9 Apr. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for dividing
Verb
-
Charles’s timing makes the benefits of separating those roles more obvious.—
Erin Vanderhoof,
Vanity Fair,
26 Apr. 2026
-
The couple sat in a vestibule inside the Aurora immigration detention facility on a Saturday in March, staring at each other through the glass barrier separating the incarcerated from the free.—
Elizabeth Hernandez,
Denver Post,
26 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Asia-Pacific markets were trading lower Friday, diverging from Wall Street's record-setting rally.—
Leonie Kidd,
CNBC,
17 Apr. 2026
-
Likewise diverging from the norm, a Retiarius on a pottery relief from Gaul, instead of being almost naked, wears a helmet, body armor, and greaves.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
15 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
The plant will feed on renewable power from Paraguay’s vast Itaipu dam to produce hydrogen by splitting water through electrolysis, which is then combined with nitrogen to create zero-carbon ammonia.—
Natasha Bracken,
semafor.com,
28 Apr. 2026
-
The shooting has also intensified calls by conservatives to fully fund DHS through a single bill — blaming Democrats for the shutdown and arguing that splitting apart ICE and Border Patrol funding will only give the minority party leverage.—
Mike Lillis,
The Hill,
28 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
So, consider their timeless appeal and potential worth before parting ways with your music collection.—
Alexandra Kelly,
Martha Stewart,
26 Apr. 2026
-
The first part is the dark clouds parting and the sun shining through and the patient, the people have a new world of opportunity and promise and health, and then comes the second half of the drug.—
Torie Bosch,
STAT,
25 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Features like front and rear locking differentials and a disconnecting front stabilizer bar help the truck crawl over obstacles that would challenge most pickups.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
22 Apr. 2026
-
There are several natural gas marketers in the state, but the commission said Atlanta Gas Light is still responsible for the pipelines and connecting and disconnecting service.—
Irene Wright,
USA Today,
14 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
On the arm of the sofa, where he had been seated just minutes before retreating into his bedroom for a few minutes of shut-eye, was a block of brown and white ice.—
Hannah Fry,
Los Angeles Times,
15 Apr. 2026
-
Large investors flip to net sellers Larger investors are already retreating from the single-family market.—
Samantha Delouya,
CNN Money,
13 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Dividing.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/dividing. Accessed 2 May. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
