import scala.annotation.tailrec def multiSplit(str:String, sep:Seq[String])={ def findSep(index:Int)=sep find (str startsWith (_, index)) @tailrec def nextSep(index:Int):(Int,Int)= if(index>str.size) (index, 0) else findSep(index) match { case Some(sep) => (index, sep.size) case _ => nextSep(index + 1) } def getParts(start:Int, pos:(Int,Int)):List[String]={ val part=str slice (start, pos._1) if(pos._2==0) List(part) else part :: getParts(pos._1+pos._2, nextSep(pos._1+pos._2)) } getParts(0, nextSep(0)) } println(multiSplit("a!===b=!=c", Seq("!=", "==", "=")))