partial

adjective

ˈpär-shəl How to pronounce partial (audio)
Definition of partialnext
1
as in distorted
inclined to favor one side over another that judge is always partial to the defense, so be careful

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in inclined
having a liking or affection partial to chocolate cake

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in incomplete
lacking some necessary part a partial answer to the problem

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 partial Russian assaults since Thursday have forced the full or partial closure of three of Kyiv's six road bridges, suspending traffic and causing tailbacks in the Ukrainian capital. — Arkansas Online, 5 Oct. 2026 This traffic may have contributed to a partial outage on WQDS in May. — Jay Peters, The Verge, 5 Oct. 2026 The existence of thousands of cameras reveals only a partial view of the broader surveillance apparatus. — Abigail Hall, The Conversation, 5 Oct. 2026 Russian assaults since Thursday have forced the full or partial closure of three of Kyiv’s six road bridges, suspending traffic and causing tailbacks in Moscow’s latest effort to disrupt life in the Ukrainian capital. — Susie Blann, Chicago Tribune, 4 Oct. 2026 See All Example Sentences for partial
Recent Examples of Synonyms for partial
  1. distorted
  2. inclined
  3. incomplete
  4. hostile
  5. attached
  6. biased
  7. fond
  8. partisan
Adjective
  • Lula’s coalition filed a legal complaint requesting that the avatar’s profiles be taken down, on the grounds that the anonymous accounts peddled false or distorted information that could mislead voters.
    — Constance Malleret, Christian Science Monitor, 3 Oct. 2026
  • The shoegaze sound keeps evolving, as young artists keep hearing themselves in those mega-distorted waves of guitar fuzz.
    — Rob Sheffield, Rolling Stone, 17 Sep. 2026
Definition of distorted
Adjective
  • On an inclined or sitting surface, their heads can fall forward or their bodies can shift into a position that compromises breathing.
    — Katia Hetter, CNN Money, 1 Oct. 2026
  • The lightest atomic nuclei are found in hydrogen atoms, and these are the most inclined to quantum tunneling.
    — Sophya Garashchuk, The Conversation, 1 Oct. 2026
Definition of inclined
Adjective
  • Outdated or incomplete information may affect a firm's eligibility or placement.
    — Kelli Grant, CFP®,Riley de León, CNBC, 8 Oct. 2026
  • The incomplete recording that survives is a curious novelty souvenir of an important passage in Dylan’s artistic growth.
    — Sean Wilentz, Rolling Stone, 6 Oct. 2026
Definition of incomplete
Adjective
  • In a hostile divorce proceeding, the first camp to attack has a major advantage.
    — Rafaela Bassili, Vulture, 2 Oct. 2026
  • The mission’s goal is to evaluate how the chips fare during the launch, as well as in the hostile space environment.
    — Adam Kovac, Scientific American, 1 Oct. 2026
Definition of hostile
Adjective
  • Arthur Gallagher, a Clewiston homeowner, filed a water damage claim after his dog damaged an outdoor spigot by pulling on the attached hose.
    — Ron Hurtibise, Sun Sentinel, 25 Sep. 2026
  • There are also salads, soups, and flatbreads made with Texas Hill Country Olive Oil products, along with a selection of Texas wines, an olive oil tasting bar, and an attached shop selling olive oil, gourmet food, and gifts.
    — Jill Robbins, Travel + Leisure, 22 Sep. 2026
Definition of attached
Adjective
  • If these are fragmented, biased or outdated, greater intelligence may simply scale poor judgment faster.
    — Babajide Ojuola, Forbes.com, 5 Oct. 2026
  • The whole program was abandoned in 2025, with Meta claiming that expert judgments had come to be experienced as biased censorship.
    — Simon Denny, Artforum, 1 Oct. 2026
Definition of biased
Adjective
  • Hall has many fond memories of working with founder Yves Saint Laurent, not least as the inaugural face of the brand’s Opium scent, which wafted across the set.
    — Joelle Diderich, Footwear News, 30 Sep. 2026
  • Some of my fondest memories occurred inside EPCOT, Magic Kingdom, and—later—Disney’s–MGM Studios, now known as Hollywood Studios.
    — Kimberly Zapata, Parents, 27 Sep. 2026
Definition of fond
Adjective
  • More than two-thirds of people currently in immigration detention centers have not been convicted of a crime, according to multiple non-partisan organizations.
    — Mathew Miranda, Sacbee.com, 7 Oct. 2026
  • Unfortunately, despite a vast expansion of executive branch authority, Congress seems prepared to let partisan advantage trump comity, cooperation and the public’s right to know.
    — David Wippman, Washington Post, 5 Oct. 2026
Definition of partisan

Phrases Containing partial

Browse Nearby Words

parted (with)
partial
partialities
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Cite this Entry

“Partial.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/partial. Accessed 9 Oct. 2026.

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