particle

noun

ˈpär-ti-kəl How to pronounce particle (audio)
Definition of particlenext
1
as in speck
a very small amount there was not a particle of truth in what she said

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in bit
a very small piece a particle of cookie fell on the carpet

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 particle Fiber-rich foods like fruits, vegetables and whole grains stimulate saliva, which neutralizes acids and washes away food particles. — Hanna Wickes, Charlotte Observer, 5 Oct. 2026 Pearlescent particles provide an instant soft-focus glow, giving skin a brighter, more luminous look. — Sheryl George, Allure, 5 Oct. 2026 Fruits, vegetables and whole grains stimulate saliva production, which neutralizes acids and washes away food particles. — Hanna Wickes, Kansas City Star, 5 Oct. 2026 Its Advanced Color ePaper technology, for example, uses colored particles rather than relying on a conventional LCD-style color filter array. — Kaif Shaikh, Interesting Engineering, 4 Oct. 2026 See All Example Sentences for particle
Recent Examples of Synonyms for particle
  1. speck
  2. bit
  3. sprinkling
  4. fleck
  5. hint
  6. molecule
  7. glimmer
  8. atom
Noun
  • The period is 2006, when the golden age of streamable content is barely a speck on the media horizon.
    — Justin Chang, New Yorker, 25 Sep. 2026
  • To make matters worse, the Houthis have captured new terrain in Yemen and acquired Perim Island, a speck of land inside the Bab el-Mandeb chokepoint that better positions the Yemeni militia to intercept oil tankers.
    — Daniel DePetris, Chicago Tribune, 15 Sep. 2026
Definition of speck
Noun
  • This whole bit is totally misplayed (though the gown is spectacular).
    — Brian Moylan, Vulture, 5 Oct. 2026
  • Yet beneath that paper-like surface is a surprisingly simple bit of physics.
    — Kaif Shaikh, Interesting Engineering, 4 Oct. 2026
Definition of bit
Noun
  • As ever, the lineup is a mix of new features from Asia’s best auteurs, a sprinkling of Hollywood movies and projects from up-and-coming filmmakers.
    — Abid Rahman, HollywoodReporter, 1 Oct. 2026
  • Some versions are sold as wedges, while others are finely grated and packaged for easy sprinkling over spaghetti or casseroles.
    — Jessica Safavimehr, Southern Living, 15 Sep. 2026
Definition of sprinkling
Noun
  • As few as 10 cells, hidden in an infinitesimal fleck of feces, can contaminate raw milk and trigger a fatal infection.
    — CNN Money, CNN Money, 1 Oct. 2026
  • The oversized jacket featured a furry white base adorned with flecks of silver, which beautifully mirrored the sumptuous coats on the runway.
    — Chanel Vargas, InStyle, 25 Sep. 2026
Definition of fleck
Noun
  • Though some concept drawings were released by the company shortly after the project began in 2008, more recent renditions have been little more than hints showing the craft as an outline in the haze, with only the nose and cockpit showing clearly.
    — New Atlas, New Atlas, 4 Oct. 2026
  • Though Kid Rock has not yet discussed his new album — or his relationship with Allen — beyond a brief Instagram post, past comments might offer a hint into his decision to include someone who’s been all but banished from the country music industry.
    — Jonathan Bernstein, Rolling Stone, 2 Oct. 2026
Definition of hint
Noun
  • At the center of the MOF are positively charged metal ions connected by organic linker molecules.
    — Ameya Paleja, Interesting Engineering, 5 Oct. 2026
  • The middle zone holds polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP), a plastic-like material made of long-chain molecules.
    — New Atlas, New Atlas, 4 Oct. 2026
Definition of molecule
Noun
  • These sensual glimmers are no match for the antagonistic sociality of straight male relationships, which, in this novel, quickly convert sympathy or desire into rivalry and aggression.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 24 Sep. 2026
  • Smatterings of dull hardware added a hint of glimmer to Anna Sui’s dark denim.
    — Angela Velasquez, Footwear News, 23 Sep. 2026
Definition of glimmer
Noun
  • Researchers have often used the valence-electron concentration, or the number of valence electrons per atom, to classify magnetic behavior.
    — Rupendra Brahambhatt, Interesting Engineering, 4 Oct. 2026
  • In the early 1930s, scientists were just beginning to discover the extraordinary world hidden inside the atom, which is made up of a dense center, called the nucleus, with electrons orbiting around it.
    — Andrea Richard, The Conversation, 2 Oct. 2026
Definition of atom

Browse Nearby Words

participators
particle
particles
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

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

Copy Citation
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

Do You Need a New Language Peeve?

The Exceptions of '-s' and '-es' Plurals

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

Is it 'nerve-racking' or 'nerve-wracking'?

What's the difference between 'fascism' and 'socialism'?
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

The Real Origin of 'Supercalifragilistic'

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

7 Words for Bad Endings and Rough Situations

The Words of the Week - Oct. 9

Even More Bird Names that Sound Like Insults (and Sometimes Are)
See More

Popular

See More

Do You Need a New Language Peeve?

The Real Origin of 'Supercalifragilistic'

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't
See More

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
The Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
a cup of tea and a golf ball on tee side by side
Quiz: Sounds Like... Choose the word that sounds like it fits the clue...
See All