feud
1 Americannoun
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Also called blood feud. a bitter, continuous hostility, especially between two families, clans, etc., often lasting for many years or generations.
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a bitter quarrel or contention.
a feud between labor and management.
- Synonyms:
- difference, argument
verb (used without object)
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
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feudsimple
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feudssimple
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have feudedperfect
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has feudedperfect
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am feudingprogressive
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are feudingprogressive
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is feudingprogressive
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have been feudingperfect progressive
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has been feudingperfect progressive
Past
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feudedsimple
-
had feudedperfect
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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:
Unfortunately, one of the people who paid the ultimate price in this feud is Anna’s coworker, whom she couldn’t leave out of her personal problems.
From Salon ● Jul. 17, 2026
But nothing comes close to the 64-year-old World Cup feud that is England vs.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 14, 2026
It said the feud covered "the length and breadth of the country" before there was "a clear and obvious downturn in activity."
From BBC ● Jul. 13, 2026
Harry and Meghan left Britain for North America in 2020 amid a bitter feud with his family, which worsened as Harry published his tell-all memoir "Spare".
From Barron's ● Jul. 7, 2026
With the news announcement of Butler’s arrest, and his at least tentative identification as a member of Elijah Muhammad’s organization, tension reached a new high among all who had any role in the feud.
From "The Autobiography of Malcolm X" by Alex Malcolm X;Hailey
“Neighbor disputes are a great leveler,” says Harrison Fishman, who co-directs this gonzo excursion into neighborhood feuds with Dylan Redford.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jun. 3, 2026
The figures and feuds are too numerous to list, but they share a common intensity.
From Slate ● Mar. 5, 2026
He has investigated the agendas of powerful fossil fuel billionaires, delved into epic feuds pitting some of the world's largest energy companies against each other, and revealed how drillers navigate a treacherous political landscape.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Mar. 2, 2026
Officials say that most cases involved ordinary criminality - land disputes, theft, extortion, or personal feuds - that were later framed as religious violence.
From BBC ● Feb. 15, 2026
She doesn’t understand what use my looking nice would be, me with my grudges and feuds.
From "The Cruel Prince" by Holly Black
Instead of collecting trophies, he sued a rival franchise, feuded with fans and—despite his success elsewhere in the entertainment world—relentlessly attacked the NBA itself.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jun. 3, 2026
Members of his team have feuded over policy.
From BBC ● Dec. 15, 2025
Other critics included far-right activist Laura Loomer, who is Jewish and who has feuded with both Carlson and Fuentes in recent months.
From Slate ● Oct. 31, 2025
In the past, Banks has feuded with numerous musicians including Nicki Minaj, Eminem, Kendrick Lamar, Iggy Azalea, Rihanna and Doechii, among several others.
From Los Angeles Times ● May 8, 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
No talk of superintelligent machines, no public feuding, just one question: can it make money?
From Barron's ● May 15, 2026
He also called on Philippine Ferdinand Marcos Jr, who is feuding with the Duterte political dynasty, to file a local case against him if he believed him to be guilty.
From BBC ● May 12, 2026
The two have reportedly been feuding increasingly since George, who was Driscoll’s chief of staff, was fired, according to The Hill.
From Salon ● May 1, 2026
Suddenly, the feuding married couple must work together to stay alive.
From Los Angeles Times ● Apr. 24, 2026
It was hard for me to listen as they talked about prom, and about how Lacey was feuding with Becca or whatever.
From "Paper Towns" by John Green
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.
