divisiveness

[ dih-vahy-siv-nis ]

noun

1. a tendency to provoke dissension or discord:

   He called for an end to the divisiveness among council members, imploring them to unite and work together for the betterment of the city.

   Immigration bills are particularly difficult to pass because of the divisiveness of the issue.

Other Words From

• non·di·vi·sive·ness noun
• sem·i·di·vi·sive·ness noun
• un·di·vi·sive·ness noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of divisiveness¹

divisive ( def ) + -ness ( def )

Example Sentences

Aside from increased competition, media companies are seeing advertisers become more skittish about running their ads in news programming, as they are turned off by the vitriol and divisiveness in the current polarized political landscape.

From Los Angeles Times

They knew they could lose if the contest became about Trump’s behavior and divisiveness.

From Los Angeles Times

“You need to have people elected by a majority of voters,” Rayfield says, “and you need to incentivize alternative voices in the system. I think that’s incredibly important. We need to get rid of the divisiveness. Ranked choice voting is not a silver bullet, but it’s a very important element of that.”

From Salon

“Anecdotally, I’ve heard more and more folks talking not just about a Trump administration, but about the divisiveness in the country,” she said.

From Los Angeles Times

Global migration agencies say that list increasingly includes escaping U.S. political divisiveness.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• animosity
• antagonism
• argument
• bickering
• clash
• conflict
• controversy
• debate
• difference
• discord
• dissent
• disunity
• division
• feud
• fight
• friction
• hostility
• misunderstanding
• opposition
• spat