MEMBER Synonyms: 52 Similar and Opposite Words

Q: 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

Q: 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

Q: 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

Q: 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

Q: 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

Q: 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

Q: 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

Q: 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

member

noun

ˈmem-bər

Definition of member

as in component

one of the parts that make up a whole you're only one member of this group effort

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in portion

one of the pieces from which something is designed to be assembled lost an indispensable member of the model airplane kit

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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

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 member De La Faverie has brought in outside talent, assembling a leadership team where three-quarters of its members are either new to the company or to their roles, and many come from outside the world of beauty. — Jenny B. Fine, Footwear News, 9 Oct. 2026 Nova Mohiuddin, 23, and an organizing member of the UIC student chapter of Chicago Socialist Alternative, was the first to take the mic. — Kate Perez, Chicago Tribune, 9 Oct. 2026 Asked by ranking member Michael Bennet (D-CO) what worries him the most, Fauci said the possibility of a pandemic flu. — Mia Cathell, The Washington Examiner, 9 Oct. 2026 Veteran Nick Martinez, making his first career postseason start at age 36, didn’t get through the fourth, but Seymour and Griffin Jax, the other member of the rotation, teamed for 10 outs. — Marc Topkin, The Orlando Sentinel, 9 Oct. 2026 See All Example Sentences for member

Recent Examples of Synonyms for member

Noun

Trump’s announcement during his second trip to Ohio in two weeks was prompted by an August presidential memorandum directing administration officials to identify a suitable location for the component repair center within 90 days.

— Naomi Lim, The Washington Examiner, 13 Oct. 2026
The choices are housed in the Atelier Vivier MTO cabinet, a silver console containing the available materials and hardware, while a digital component allows clients to visualize combinations before production begins.

— Thomas Waller, Footwear News, 13 Oct. 2026

Definition of component

Noun

In most cases, bed and board have to be paid for, but there are a series of daily spending caps on different elements, such as food and hotel costs.

— The Week UK, TheWeek, 11 Oct. 2026
Their brand-new kits and crest, designed by former Sporting KC senior brand director Chad Reynolds, embrace Kansas City elements in designs and font.

— Daniel Sperry, Kansas City Star, 11 Oct. 2026

Definition of element

Noun

Video aired by local news outlets showed a Catholic cathedral collapsing and part of a hotel’s facade falling onto a car in the city of Penonomé, in the central province of Coclé.

— Juan Zamorano, Los Angeles Times, 9 Oct. 2026
Cybersecurity specialist Daniel Kellner (Josh O’Connor) decides to turn whistleblower upon discovering that the US government has been suppressing evidence of extra-terrrestrial life, as part of a cover-up that goes back decades.

— Tom Bailey, Space.com, 9 Oct. 2026

Definition of part

Noun

Whereas collectability, value and investability of sports cards can rise and fall on the real-world performance of athletes, both trading-card genres share common factors.

— Bob Woods, CNBC, 10 Oct. 2026
Even your language preference, country setting, and device type factor in, though TikTok says those carry less weight.

— Bilin Lin, Fortune, 10 Oct. 2026

Definition of factor

Noun

That album drew Simmons’ bass and Bindeman’s drums to the fore of the mix, letting Harris’ guitar and vocals foam behind the rhythm section’s discrete peaks.

— Sasha Geffen, Pitchfork, 8 Oct. 2026
Elephants in the Fog competed in the Un Certain Regard section at the Cannes Film Festival this year, winning the Jury Prize.

— Stewart Clarke, Deadline, 8 Oct. 2026

Definition of section

Noun

Bakery products from El Nuevo Progresso bakery lacked an ingredient list for each product.

— Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 12 Oct. 2026
Per Degroote, who’s been in the unscripted business for over two decades, one of the key ingredients for a format’s success today lies in audience participation.

— Elsa Keslassy, Variety, 12 Oct. 2026

Definition of ingredient

Noun

Democrats lost the 2024 elections in part because of their eroding support among Latino voters, a constituency that was once a reliable segment of their base.

— Claudia Grisales, NPR, 10 Oct. 2026
Such was their shtick throughout their segment of New York Comic-Con’s Star Trek panel, which teased season two of Starfleet Academy before making time for Shatner to thoughtfully look back on the franchise that has defined his career.

— Eric Vilas-Boas, Vulture, 10 Oct. 2026

Definition of segment

Browse Nearby Words

melts down

member

members

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Cite this Entry

Style

“Member.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/member. Accessed 14 Oct. 2026.

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Synonyms of member

noun

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