factious

American  

[fak-shuhs] / ˈfæk ʃəs /

adjective

1. given to faction; dissentious.

   A factious group was trying to undermine the government.

   Synonyms:

   contentious, mutinous, disputatious, divisive

2. pertaining to or proceeding from faction.

   factious quarrels.

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factious British  

/ ˈfækʃəs /

adjective

1. given to, producing, or characterized by faction

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Other Word Forms

• factiously adverb
• factiousness noun
• nonfactious adjective
• nonfactiously adverb
• nonfactiousness noun
• overfactious adjective
• overfactiously adverb
• overfactiousness noun
• unfactious adjective
• unfactiously adverb

Etymology

Origin of factious

1525–35; from Latin factiōsus “fond of doing, busy, of a company or party,” equivalent to facti- ( faction ¹ ) + -ōsus -ous

Example Sentences

“We call on all Nigerien democratic patriots to stand up as one to say no to this factious action that tends to set us back decades and block the progress of our country,” he said.

From Washington Times

“In a country that’s highly factious, it the factor that unites everyone,” Mark Jones, who studies Latin American politics at Rice University in Houston, told The Associated Press.

From Seattle Times

“An increasingly authoritarian China, mixed with a global growth downturn, mixed with a domestic recession, mixed with a populist president, mixed with an election year, equals an increasingly factious discourse on China.”

From Los Angeles Times

In the last year, Pelosi has guided her factious congressional caucus through the choppy waters of Trump’s presidency.

From The Guardian

Johnson on Thursday challenged the factious House of Commons to call an early election on Dec. 12 and the chamber is due to vote on that on Monday.

From Reuters