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Showing results for infighting. Search instead for infightings.
Synonyms

infighting

American  
[in-fahy-ting] / ˈɪnˌfaɪ tɪŋ /

noun

  1. fighting at close range.

  2. fighting between rivals, people closely associated, members of a group, etc.; internecine contention.

  3. free-for-all fighting.


infighting British  
/ ˈɪnˌfaɪtɪŋ /

noun

  1. boxing combat at close quarters in which proper blows are inhibited and the fighters try to wear down each other's strength

  2. intense competition, as between members of the same organization, esp when kept secret from outsiders

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Other Word Forms


Etymology

Origin of infighting

First recorded in 1810–20; in- 1 + fighting


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:

Before the arrival of the Sisters of Mary Morning Star, the death row inmates had been plagued by petty infighting.

From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 20, 2026

For this week’s Slate Plus bonus episode, Emily, David, and guest host David Leonhardt discuss the viral story about the infighting over COVID-masking policy at a Massachusetts bar.

From Slate ● Oct. 1, 2026

More than 70,000 migrants entered Ceuta from Morocco on July 30 and 31 in an unprecedented, chaotic surge that left scores dead and sparked European Union infighting over the touchy issue of migration.

From Barron's ● Sep. 10, 2026

The two aren’t believed to have spoken in years and British tabloids had reported extensively on Meghan’s infighting with Prince William’s wife, Kate.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 20, 2026

But the infighting had taken such a nasty turn during the fever—thanks largely to Rush’s aggressive personality—that he was forced to defend himself on his own.

From "An American Plague: The True and Terrifying Story of the Yellow Fever Epidemic of 1793" by Jim Murphy

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