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 Word Forms

• nondivisiveness noun
• semidivisiveness noun
• undivisiveness noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of divisiveness¹

divisive ( def. ) + -ness ( def. )

Example Sentences

Yes, in her 1992 address at New York University School of Law, remarks she titled “Speaking in a Judicial Voice,” Ginsburg, a year from becoming a Supreme Court justice, did say that the breadth of the court’s opinion in Roe created “prolonged divisiveness” and “deferred stable settlement of the issue.”

From Slate

"It holds a mirror up to society and talks about the divisiveness in our culture and the fact that there's so much polarity."

From BBC

In emotional remarks during a press conference, Governor Spencer Cox – who has frequently spoken out against overheated political rhetoric and political divisiveness – described a nation, soon to celebrate a milestone anniversary of its founding, that is "broken".

From BBC

Barrett said abortion rights were never deeply rooted in American history and cited remarks from the late Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg that Roe “prolonged divisiveness.”

From Salon

Judge says “King of the Hill” is “a calming presence in the midst of all the divisiveness. People often tell me they watch it before they go to sleep, and I’m totally good with that.”

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