fratricidal

[fra-tri-sahyd-l]

adjective

1. being or relating to the act of killing one’s brother or a member of one’s own tribe or group.

   The Mongol Empire was done in by its recurrent fratricidal infighting.

Word History and Origins

Origin of fratricidal¹

First recorded in 1665–75; fratricid(e) ( def. ) + -al ¹ ( def. )

Example Sentences

Currently, the party is mainly occupied by a panicked fratricidal effort to prevent a 33-year-old self-described socialist named Zohran Mamdani from winning the Democratic primary in the New York City mayor’s race.

From Slate

It was as if Brutus and Cassius, after disposing of Julius Caesar, had avoided fratricidal warfare and instead linked arms for a week-long party amid dance hits of the early Roman Republic and manufactured rumors that Cleopatra might show up at any moment.

From Salon

Speaking of that fratricidal slaughter that cost more than half a million American lives, Trump said: “It was, I don’t know, it was just different. I just find it — I’m so attracted to seeing it.”

From Salon

“This is a fratricidal war, so I doubly did not want to participate in it,” he said.

From Los Angeles Times

“Since all people are brothers, then any war, any military conflict, one way or another becomes fratricidal.”

From Seattle Times