splintery

UK: /ˈsplɪntərɪ/

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

splintery / ˈsplɪntərɪ/ adjective

1. liable to produce or break into splinters

WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2025

splin•ter /ˈsplɪntɚ/   n. [countable]

1. Pathology a small, thin, sharp piece of wood, bone, etc., split off from the main body:
   He used a needle to remove the splinter from his finger.
2. a part of an organization that breaks off from the main group:
   A splinter group broke away from the radical party.

v. 

3. to (cause to) be split into splinters: [no object]
   The wooden guard rail splintered as the truck drove through it.
   [~ + object]
   The huge truck splintered the flimsy guard rail.
4. to split (a larger group) into separate factions: [~ + object]
   These divisions will splinter the Republican Party.
   [no object]
   One group after another splintered away from the Democratic Party.

splin•ter•y, adj. 

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2025

splin•ter  (splin′tər), n. 

1. Pathology a small, thin, sharp piece of wood, bone, or the like, split or broken off from the main body.
2. See splinter group. 

v.t. 

3. to split or break into splinters.
4. to break off (something) in splinters.
5. to split or break (a larger group) into separate factions or independent groups.
6. [Obs.] to secure or support by a splint or splints, as a broken limb.

v.i. 

7. to be split or broken into splinters.
8. to break off in splinters.

• Middle Dutch or Middle Low German; compare splint
• Middle English 1350–1400

splin′ter•less, adj. 
splin′ter•y, adj. 
Synonyms

• 1. sliver.
• 8. separate, part, split.