fratricidal

American  

[fra-tri-sahyd-l] / ˌfræ trɪˈsaɪd l /

adjective

1. being or relating to the act of killing one’s brother or a member of one’s own tribe or group.

   The Mongol Empire was done in by its recurrent fratricidal infighting.

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Etymology

Origin of fratricidal

First recorded in 1665–75; fratricid(e) ( def. ) + -al ¹ ( def. )

Example Sentences

“This is a fratricidal war, so I doubly did not want to participate in it,” he said.

From Los Angeles Times • Aug. 17, 2023

"The Church prays that this battle will end as soon as possible, so that as few brothers as possible will kill each other in this fratricidal war."

From Reuters • Sep. 26, 2022

And between them, a reflecting pool and a reminder of the Civil War, a war of fratricidal carnage that we actually fought to an end, unlike our ongoing age of self-destruction.

From Washington Post • May 25, 2022

But living together in the aftermath of a brutal, fratricidal conflict has proven to be difficult.

From Seattle Times • Mar. 5, 2022

Is it necessary to spell out that societies mired in fratricidal chaos are vulnerable to conquest?

From "1491" by Charles C. Mann