fragmentized

Fragmentized is an adjective that describes things that have been reduced or divided into fragments—pieces that have been broken off of or detached from the whole.

The adjective fragmented means the same thing and is more commonly used.

Fragment most commonly refers to a part that has broken off rather than one that has been separated gently or intentionally, like fragments of a broken vase or a broken bone. Such things can be described as fragmentized.

As a verb, fragment can mean to break into pieces or disintegrate, as in The empire fragmented into multiple states after the emperor’s death. Such an empire could be described as fragmentized. The adjective sense of fragmentized comes from the past tense of the verb fragmentize, which can mean the same thing as the verb sense of fragment.

Fragmentized is perhaps most often applied to abstract or intangible things like this, in which case it usually means disorganized or disunified in some way. For example, a fragmentized society is one in which there is an extreme lack of unity among different groups. This sense of the word often implies that the thing described as fragmentized is broken or unhealthy in some way.

The related adjective fragmentary means something different: consisting of or reduced to fragments—disconnected or incomplete, as in fragmentary evidence. 

Example: My attention becomes fragmentized when I’m working on too many projects.

The first records of the verb fragmentize come from around the early 1800s, and the adjective sense followed not long after. It ultimately comes from the Latin fragmentum, meaning “a broken piece,” from the verb frangere, meaning “to break.” The word fragile also comes from frangere.

When something is fragmentized, it’s not entirely whole or organized. When the thing is a physical object, it’s probably broken into pieces. When it’s something intangible, it’s probably disorganized or lacking unity in some way.

What are some other forms related to fragmentized?

• fragmentize (verb)

What are some synonyms for fragmentized?

• fragmented
• disunified
• divided
• splintered

What are some words that share a root or word element with fragmentized? 

• fragment
• fragmentary
• fragmental
• fragmentation
• fragmentate
• fragmentize
• fragile

What are some words that often get used in discussing fragmentized?

• part
• piece
• society
• personality
• disorganized
• broken
• several
• multiple
• split

When fragmentized is used to describe things as disorganized or lacking unity, this is usually meant in a negative way. The word fragmented is more commonly used to mean the same thing.

How does social media change Chinese political culture? The formation of fragmentized public sphere https://t.co/zh5wdHgPyz

— Dr. Katy Pearce (@katypearce) January 16, 2017

The egalitarian community of the church demonstrates the reconciling power of the Gospel in a highly fragmentized society where people are categorized based on social status, class, income bracket, religious affiliation, educational attainment, and provincial origin.

— Joshua Delos Reyes (@joshuadlr5) February 27, 2019

 

Parts of the bullet recovered from Lalaine Martinez's alleged ambushed car. Bullet was fragmentized. | @LiaManalac https://t.co/pf8Z4occ7d

— GMA News (@gmanews) February 27, 2017

 

Which of the following words is a synonym of fragmentized?

A. disunified
B. divided
C. splintered
D. all of the above