divisive

adjective

di·​vi·​sive də-ˈvī-siv 

also

-ˈvi- 

or -ziv

: creating disunity or dissension

a divisive issue

divisive rhetoric

divisively adverb

divisiveness noun

Examples of divisive in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Addressing a crowd of at least 100,000 on Budapest's Heroes' Square, Magyar charged Orbán's government with turning Hungarians against one another through propaganda and divisive policies, and of steering the country away from its rightful place among Western democracies. —Arkansas Online, 16 Mar. 2026

Th​at’s because lawmakers put outsized effort into a slew of dangerous and divisive bills that assault the basic rights of every Floridian. —Orlando Sentinel, The Orlando Sentinel, 15 Mar. 2026

Republican messaging has mostly highlighted a less divisive provision in the bill that would require voters to show a photo ID, but the mandate for people to provide documentary proof of citizenship to register to vote in federal elections is likely to have the most wide-ranging consequences. —Julie Carr Smyth, Fortune, 14 Mar. 2026

The Florida Legislature ended its regular session Friday after passing a slew of dangerous and divisive bills that assault the basic rights of every Floridian. —Sun Sentinel Editorial Board, Sun Sentinel, 14 Mar. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1642, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for divisive

• decisive
• incisive
• indecisive