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

There were disagreements over his war with Iran, pride over his immigration crackdown and lots of encouragement to avoid infighting as the Republican Party faces a difficult midterm election. —ABC News, 27 Mar. 2026

Will infighting now affect Democrats' chances later? —Steve Mistler, NPR, 26 Mar. 2026

Looking back at our wars in Vietnam, Iraq and Afghanistan should tell us that a war waged in a vast country with complex and historic factional infighting, is likely to end up in a quagmire. —Dr. Michael Good, Hartford Courant, 25 Mar. 2026

The state took over Edgewood ISD in 2016 for infighting among members but not for academic performance. —Noah Alcala Bach, San Antonio Express-News, 24 Mar. 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