divide and conquer
idiom
variants
or divide and rule
: to make a group of people disagree and fight with one another so that they will not join together against one
His military strategy is to divide and conquer.
Examples of divide and conquer in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Everyone can't do everything, so divide and conquer as a team.
—
Kathryn Lancioni, Forbes.com, 5 June 2025
The Executive Branch’s divide and conquer campaign against lawyers and law firms has been extended beyond US borders.
—Mark A. Cohen, Forbes.com, 12 May 2025
Rothman’s two top lieutenants are Sony Motion Picture Group co-presidents Sanford Panitch and Josh Greenstein, who divide and conquer by focusing on production and marketing/distribution, respectively.
—Pamela McClintock, HollywoodReporter, 9 May 2025
For years, Putin has employed covert means to keep the West off balance, divide and conquer, stress its political fabric, and redirect its focus inward.
—Douglas London, Foreign Affairs, 11 Apr. 2022
See All Example Sentences for divide and conquer
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Kathryn Lancioni, Forbes.com, 5 June 2025
The Executive Branch’s divide and conquer campaign against lawyers and law firms has been extended beyond US borders.
—Mark A. Cohen, Forbes.com, 12 May 2025
Rothman’s two top lieutenants are Sony Motion Picture Group co-presidents Sanford Panitch and Josh Greenstein, who divide and conquer by focusing on production and marketing/distribution, respectively.
—Pamela McClintock, HollywoodReporter, 9 May 2025
For years, Putin has employed covert means to keep the West off balance, divide and conquer, stress its political fabric, and redirect its focus inward.
—Douglas London, Foreign Affairs, 11 Apr. 2022
See All Example Sentences for divide and conquer
Cite this Entry
“Divide and conquer.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/divide%20and%20conquer. Accessed 8 Jul. 2025.
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