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

Trump ends the year weak and unpopular, his coalition dispirited and riven by infighting. —Michelle Goldberg, Mercury News, 30 Dec. 2025

In addition, infighting within the coalition over how to spend the 500 billion euro infrastructure fund has raised concerns that coalition members will use deficit spending as a Band-Aid on legacy problems and as a way to service their voter bases rather than create economic opportunities. —Sudha David-Wilp, Foreign Affairs, 23 Dec. 2025

But the same dynamic now also helps illustrate why TPUSA is beset by infighting. —Ali Breland, The Atlantic, 23 Dec. 2025

This year's festival has been marked by notable infighting among prominent members of the current conservative movement. —Toria Sheffield, PEOPLE, 22 Dec. 2025

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