fratricidal

American  

[fra-tri-sahyd-l] / ˌfræ trɪˈsaɪd 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.

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Etymology

Origin of fratricidal

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

Example Sentences

You find that in Amis too, sometimes where you least expect it: amid the apocalyptic tremors of “London Fields,” the fratricidal savagery of “The Information,” the decadence and thuggery of “Lionel Asbo.”

From New York Times • May 22, 2023

In it, he called on the new coup leaders “to come to their senses to avoid a fratricidal war that Burkina Faso does not need.”

From Seattle Times • Oct. 2, 2022

"The Church prays that this battle will end as soon as possible, so that as few brothers as possible will kill each other in this fratricidal war."

From Reuters • Sep. 26, 2022

It’s hard to deny that the war is fratricidal, however, and that would seem to make selling it to the public more difficult.

From Washington Post • Apr. 22, 2022

Is it necessary to spell out that societies mired in fratricidal chaos are vulnerable to conquest?

From "1491" by Charles C. Mann