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 of infighting

• discord
• strife
• friction
• conflict
• discordance
• war
• schism
• warfare
• discordancy
• dissent
• division

Examples of infighting in a Sentence

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

Recent Examples on the Web

Farhat says political infighting within the same party, no less, shouldn't be lawmakers' focus this close to the budget deadline. —Elle Meyers, CBS News, 18 June 2026

Jones comes out on top during May primary The party infighting came to a head on May 19 when Republican voters clearly identified their top two candidates. —Irene Wright, USA Today, 17 June 2026

After 18 months that saw Cabarrus County commissioners fire two county managers, face multiple lawsuits and weather accusations of political infighting, the board unanimously selected veteran public administrator John Eller IV as the county’s next top executive Monday night. —Nora O'Neill, Charlotte Observer, 16 June 2026

College football was in desperate need of a new villain after the infighting between the SEC and Big Ten had gotten stale. —Austin Perry Outkick, FOXNews.com, 12 June 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1816, in the meaning defined at sense 3

Rhymes for infighting

• alighting
• backbiting
• bullfighting
• daylighting
• delighting
• exciting
• firefighting
• handwriting
• highlighting
• igniting
• inciting
• indicting