feud
1 Americannoun
-
Also called blood feud. a bitter, continuous hostility, especially between two families, clans, etc., often lasting for many years or generations.
-
a bitter quarrel or contention.
a feud between labor and management.
- Synonyms:
- difference, argument
verb (used without object)
-
feuds,
present (3rd person singular)
-
feuded,
past participle, past
-
feuding
present participle
noun
noun
-
long and bitter hostility between two families, clans, or individuals; vendetta
-
a quarrel or dispute
verb
noun
Other Word Forms
Inflected Forms
Participles
Conjugated Forms
Present
-
feudsimple
-
feudssimple
-
have feudedperfect
-
has feudedperfect
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am feudingprogressive
-
are feudingprogressive
-
is feudingprogressive
-
have been feudingperfect progressive
-
has been feudingperfect progressive
Past
-
feudedsimple
-
had feudedperfect
-
was feudingprogressive
-
were feudingprogressive
-
had been feudingperfect progressive
Future
Etymology
Origin of feud1
1300–50; variant of fead ( a misread as u ), Middle English fede < Middle French fe ( i ) de < Old High German fēhida; cognate with Old English fǣhth enmity. See foe, -th 1
Origin of feud2
1605–15; < Medieval Latin feudum, variant of feodum. See fee
Explanation
A feud is a long-standing fight, often between two families. In Romeo and Juliet, Shakespeare describes the lovers' long-feuding families, the Capulets and the Montagues. Feuds do not have to be violent—what characterizes them is long-standing hostility. Ethnic groups can sometimes be said to be feuding. Kids in school who refuse to sit at the same lunch table over a period of years could describe their relationship as a feud.
Vocabulary lists containing feud
Beowulf vocabulary
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"Romeo and Juliet" and "West Side Story"
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"The Interlopers" and "An Interview with the King of Terror"
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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.
See Examples For:
But foremost on his mind was his feud with the team’s owner, George Steinbrenner.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 8, 2026
The scandal also led to a public feud in the Supreme Court, where some justices have been linked to Vorcaro.
From Barron's ● Oct. 3, 2026
ESPN’s Stephen A. Smith called New Orleans star Zion Williamson a ‘food addict’ on Tuesday, apparently sparking a public feud with the Pelicans’ social media team.
From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 23, 2026
In 1951, columnist Walter Winchell engaged in a public feud with world-famous entertainer and civil rights activist Josephine Baker, who was refused service at the legendary Stork Club in New York City.
From Salon ● Sep. 17, 2026
This had led to what might be called a feud between Onofre and the sheriff.
From "The Milagro Beanfield War" by John Nichols
Memphis pro wrestling legend “Superstar” Bill Dundee, whose career spanned more than five decades and included iconic feuds and tag-team runs with Jerry “The King” Lawler, has died.
From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 7, 2026
In many of the new series, the camera is focused on the ambitious and feuds involving tech’s elite.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 3, 2026
Murdoch, his business empire and his feuds with his six children have become rich pickings for authors, screenwriters and directors.
From Barron's ● Sep. 2, 2026
His feed is packed with public health information, but also with bitter feuds - including with celebrities - conducted in a style many describe as rude.
From BBC ● Jun. 28, 2026
The ambitions of the Romans and the victories of the Moors, the royal feuds of Europe.
From "The Underground Railroad: A Novel" by Colson Whitehead
Far-right activist Laura Loomer, who has feuded publicly with Yiannopoulos, celebrated his detention and claimed credit for alerting federal authorities to his immigration status in multiple posts on X.
From Salon ● Aug. 29, 2026
He also feuded with bandmates who tried to steer the Bayou Boys into more commercial country-and-western pastures.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 31, 2026
Members of his team have feuded over policy.
From BBC ● Dec. 15, 2025
Jackson, who had long feuded with Combs, often took to social media to troll the Bad Boy Entertainment founder as the various allegations against him mounted and even through the criminal trial’s aftermath.
From Los Angeles Times ● Nov. 25, 2025
She had feuded for years with another picker named Bertha, who finally put a curse on her.
From "The Underground Railroad: A Novel" by Colson Whitehead
Inside the largest tech companies, top AI researchers are feuding over which projects should take priority if computing power is finite.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 11, 2026
Hearn has been publicly feuding with UFC president White since the launch of Zuffa Boxing earlier this year.
From BBC ● Sep. 26, 2026
A seer whose talent only seemed to arise when she needed to share bad news, Helaena was an unwelcome presence in her feuding family.
From Salon ● Aug. 12, 2026
Over the course of a few days, this bashful teen, always armed with her camcorder and far less free-spirited than her cousins, will be beset by her father’s feuding family.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 1, 2026
Werfel considered telling the whole story, which involved feuding families, a cruel son, a jade amulet, and a burning salamander, but it didn’t really seem like a good time.
From "The Assassination of Brangwain Spurge" by M.T. Anderson and Eugene Yelchin
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.
