infighting

noun

in·​fight·​ing ˈin-ˌfī-tiŋ 

1

: prolonged and often bitter dissension or rivalry among members of a group or organization

bureaucratic infighting

2

: rough-and-tumble fighting

3

: fighting or boxing at close quarters

infight

ˈin-ˌfīt 

intransitive verb

infighter

ˈin-ˌfī-tər 

noun

Synonyms

• conflict
• disaccord
• discord
• discordance
• discordancy
• disharmony
• dissension
• dissention
• dissent
• dissidence
• dissonance
• disunion
• disunity
• division
• friction
• inharmony
• schism
• strife
• variance
• war
• warfare

Examples of infighting in a Sentence

continued infighting has just completely robbed that political action committee of its effectiveness

Recent Examples on the Web

Trump’s 2016 bid was marked by chaos, leaking, and vicious infighting. —Eric Cortellessa, TIME, 20 Jan. 2025

That shrunk the margin for an already-tight GOP majority that struggled with infighting during the last Congress. —Stephen Fowler, NPR, 18 Jan. 2025

One fan of the Harlem collective, however, is showing love to the crew amid their infighting. —Jessica Bennett, VIBE.com, 15 Jan. 2025

There are potential mitigating factors: infighting or incompetence within Christian nationalist and MAGA circles, the role of the courts, resistance within government agencies and at the local and state levels. —John Blake, CNN, 12 Jan. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1816, in the meaning defined at sense 3