1
as in separating
to set or force apart
volunteers divided the donated groceries into several dozen piles
Synonyms & Similar Words
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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
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Recent Examples of dividing
The debate within the Democratic coalition is already bigger and louder, dividing moderates in swing states from progressives elated by Mamdani's rocket to victory in the nation's largest city.
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Susan Page, USA Today, 12 Jan. 2026
One was a real human blastocysts, which contain about 100 to 200 rapidly dividing cells.
—Rupendra Brahambhatt, Interesting Engineering, 10 Jan. 2026
Stay focused to avoid dividing your effort among needless minutiae.
—Tarot.com, Sun Sentinel, 10 Jan. 2026
Lego’s latest invention — its biggest in half a century, the company says — is dividing fans over its tech integration.
—Rachyl Jones, semafor.com, 9 Jan. 2026
Officers saw multiple bullet holes on the metal fence dividing the properties and shell casings in his backyard, the affidavit said.
—Sofia Saric, Miami Herald, 7 Jan. 2026
When properly implemented, segregation of duties helps prevent errors, fraud and oversight by dividing responsibilities among different individuals.
—Nancy Pulciano, Rolling Stone, 2 Jan. 2026
The plan, officials said, is to spread these rooms across two floors, dividing the patient population by age.
—Paul Sisson, San Diego Union-Tribune, 29 Dec. 2025
The singer's annual holiday clip is dividing fans this year.
—Allison Degrushe, Entertainment Weekly, 7 Nov. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for dividing
Verb
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The backpack itself is crafted from a durable, water-resistant, anti-abrasion material, and includes a wet pocket for separating damp items or dirty laundry.—
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This was such a tedious process that Saint Ignatius College Prep had its own recycling club that mainly involved spending Fridays after school sitting on a classroom floor and separating the recyclables the school had generated throughout the week.—
Verb
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As time passed, Webster found his views diverging from some of his neighbors’ in the Hudson Valley.—
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Emo was diverging into the pop world in every way imaginable.—
Verb
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Decades ago, some wealthier Venezuelans began splitting their time between South Florida and their home country, gradually spending more and more time.—
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After dribbling once with his right hand, Brown unleashed a Eurostep to his left, splitting the two Raptors players.—
Verb
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Love, give me lips and noses, skin parting tangy skin.—
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Daedone persuaded the swelling ranks of OM enthusiasts, givers and receivers alike, to join an experiment in communal living, gradually parting them from their wealth and autonomy.—
Verb
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The dangers of disconnecting Leaving the money to be handled by one spouse leaves your family vulnerable.—
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There’s nothing better than disconnecting from the world—and hopefully, your phone—on a long walk outside.—
Verb
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At the opening, Natalie, bored and filled with loathing for her parents, flees her family home by retreating into imaginary worlds of vivid, eroticized violence.—
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Even with state and federal backing, developers are retreating and selling properties, signaling that grassroots activism is fundamentally reshaping Big Tech’s expansion strategy.—
Cite this Entry
“Dividing.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/dividing. Accessed 13 Jan. 2026.
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