At a glance
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Word page
Sliver
Sliver means a very thin piece of something, such as wood, glass, metal, or even time and possibility in figurative writing. It is a practical word with strong visual power.
How to say it
Meaning in plain English
A thin fragment, strip, or slice; also, to split into slivers. It is a practical word with strong visual power.
Why this word feels absurd
Sliver feels absurd because it is so slight and sharp that the word itself seems to cut the sentence into narrow strips.
Origin and history
The word has long been part of English and related Germanic vocabulary for splitting and thin fragments. It has stayed useful in both concrete and metaphorical language.
Is this word still used today?
Yes, in everyday speech, medicine, craft writing, journalism, and creative prose.
Example sentences
- A sliver of moon hung above the rooftops.
- He pulled a wooden sliver from his thumb.
- There is only a sliver of hope left, but it matters.
- The glass shattered into dangerous slivers.
When should you use this word?
Usage advice Use sliver when you want a more vivid, specific, or memorable alternative to a plainer expression. It works especially well in explanatory writing, creative description, and glossary-style pages that target searches about meaning, pronunciation, origin, usage, and example sentences.
Similar words
Shard, Fragment, Strip, Splinter
Opposite or contrasting words
Chunk, Mass, Block, Whole
Common questions
- What does sliver mean? It means a thin fragment, strip, or slice; also, to split into slivers.
- How do you pronounce sliver? It is commonly pronounced SLIV-er.
- Is sliver still used today? Yes, in everyday speech, medicine, craft writing, journalism, and creative prose.
- Where does sliver come from? The word has long been part of English and related Germanic vocabulary for splitting and thin fragments. It has stayed useful in both concrete and metaphorical language.
- What words are similar to sliver? shard, fragment, strip, splinter are close in meaning or association.