as in incomplete
lacking some necessary part
the historical record of this pharaoh's life and reign is fragmentary at best
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
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 fragmentary
The dozen or so Denisovan fossils that had been identified since 2010 using DNA were too small and fragmentary to warrant an official species name.
—
Katie Hunt, CNN Money, 26 Dec. 2025
The reality is that for those closest to the epicenter of any murder, healing can be fragmentary, drawn out, or downright elusive.
—Josh Mankiewicz, NBC news, 22 Dec. 2025
Her remaining works in fragmentary progress will provide enough material for at least two posthumous albums and possibly a hologram concert by spring.
—Sophie Brookover, Vulture, 21 Nov. 2025
With words infallibly falling short, Pritam mingled realism with a fragmentary style of narration that meshes together social encounters, violent episodes, vivid metaphors, disturbing dreams, memories, intimate self-reflections, and introspection on society.
—JSTOR Daily, 30 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for fragmentary
Katie Hunt, CNN Money, 26 Dec. 2025
The reality is that for those closest to the epicenter of any murder, healing can be fragmentary, drawn out, or downright elusive.
—Josh Mankiewicz, NBC news, 22 Dec. 2025
Her remaining works in fragmentary progress will provide enough material for at least two posthumous albums and possibly a hologram concert by spring.
—Sophie Brookover, Vulture, 21 Nov. 2025
With words infallibly falling short, Pritam mingled realism with a fragmentary style of narration that meshes together social encounters, violent episodes, vivid metaphors, disturbing dreams, memories, intimate self-reflections, and introspection on society.
—JSTOR Daily, 30 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for fragmentary
Recent Examples of Synonyms for fragmentary
incomplete
Adjective
-
The race unfolds as district confronts superintendent under FBI investigation, declining enrollment, potential strike and incomplete academic recovery from pandemic.—
Howard Blume,
Los Angeles Times,
30 Apr. 2026
-
Both are ad hoc and incomplete.—
Evan Johnson,
IEEE Spectrum,
30 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Fragmentary.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/fragmentary. Accessed 3 May. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
