divisive
Americanadjective
-
causing or tending to cause disagreement or dissension
-
archaic having the quality of distinguishing
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of divisive
First recorded in 1590–1600; from Late Latin dīvīsīvus, equivalent to Latin dīvīs(us) ( see divisible) + -īvus adjective suffix ( see -ive)
Explanation
If you say something that is intended to make people angry with each other, your words are divisive. If you want to avoid divisive talk at your family's Thanksgiving dinner, it's probably best to avoid discussing politics. The adjective divisive is related to the verb divide, which means "to separate things or pull them apart." Divisive things divide. That's why it's best to avoid potentially divisive topics like politics if you believe you are in the company of people who have differing opinions. Don't confuse divisive with decisive, which means "able to make decisions" and "unmistakable, beyond a doubt."
Vocabulary lists containing divisive
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Hamilton
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President Obama's Farewell Address
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Mr. Auslin describes how, in the 1790s, party conflict and the shadow of the French Revolution made the Declaration, especially its claim that all men are created equal, “more divisive than it was unifying.”
From The Wall Street Journal • May 22, 2026
"From conflicts to economic crises to climate change and aid cuts, we live in difficult, dangerous and divisive times."
From Barron's • May 18, 2026
"When people in positions of influence use divisive and inflammatory language, it gives others permission to behave in the same way."
From BBC • May 15, 2026
The article contends that Raman employed divisive tactics by falsely claiming Pratt and Bass were coordinating against her, a characterization that drew audience laughter and demonstrated her inexperience and insufficient preparation for the mayoral contest.
From Los Angeles Times • May 6, 2026
The confluence of race and sex was a powerful force in dismantling Reconstruction after the Civil War, sustaining Jim Crow laws for a century and fueling divisive racial politics throughout the twentieth century.
From "Just Mercy" by Bryan Stevenson
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.
