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Synonyms

divisive

American  
[dih-vahy-siv, -vis-iv] / dɪˈvaɪ sɪv, -ˈvɪs ɪv /

adjective

  1. forming or expressing division or distribution.

  2. creating dissension or discord.

divisive British  
/ dɪˈvaɪsɪv /

adjective

  1. causing or tending to cause disagreement or dissension

  2. archaic having the quality of distinguishing

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Other Word Forms

  • divisively adverb
  • divisiveness noun
  • nondivisive adjective
  • nondivisively adverb
  • semidivisive adjective
  • semidivisively adverb
  • undivisive adjective
  • undivisively adverb

Etymology

Origin of divisive

First recorded in 1590–1600; from Late Latin dīvīsīvus, equivalent to Latin dīvīs(us) ( divisible ) + -īvus adjective suffix ( -ive )

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.