as in parties
a group of people acting together within a larger group
several factions within the environmental movement have joined forces to save this wilderness area
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Recent Examples of factions
But now many of those same factions are expressing open revulsion at the Iran war, rupturing relationships that were supposed to usher in a new international order.
—
ABC News, 9 Apr. 2026
Guerrilla groups such as Colombia’s National Liberation Army (ELN), dissident FARC factions and Venezuelan criminal organizations operate across mining zones, frequently imposing taxes on miners and controlling pits through violence.
—Antonio María Delgado, Miami Herald, 9 Apr. 2026
Brazilian police seized a record 48 tons of marijuana in a favela in Rio de Janeiro, uncovered by chance by a sniffer dog during a regular operation against criminal factions.
—CBS News, 8 Apr. 2026
The way different political factions responded to these two events indicated an unspoken, and chilling, tolerance for aggression.
—Orlando Sentinel Editorial Board, The Orlando Sentinel, 8 Apr. 2026
Nationally, the left often concedes first in the name of pragmatism, while more conservative factions hold firm and extract concessions.
—Darius Khalil Gordon, New York Daily News, 7 Apr. 2026
The major New York factions have been defeated, but a new one, the Freeman, has emerged.
—Gieson Cacho, Mercury News, 6 Apr. 2026
The contest has largely split key players and factions in California’s Democratic Party between Campa-Najjar and von Wilpert.
—Lucas Robinson, San Diego Union-Tribune, 5 Apr. 2026
Elected in 1980, Bani Sadr quickly came into conflict with clerical factions over the direction of the revolution and the conduct of the Iran-Iraq war.
—Roxane Razavi, The Conversation, 2 Apr. 2026
ABC News, 9 Apr. 2026
Guerrilla groups such as Colombia’s National Liberation Army (ELN), dissident FARC factions and Venezuelan criminal organizations operate across mining zones, frequently imposing taxes on miners and controlling pits through violence.
—Antonio María Delgado, Miami Herald, 9 Apr. 2026
Brazilian police seized a record 48 tons of marijuana in a favela in Rio de Janeiro, uncovered by chance by a sniffer dog during a regular operation against criminal factions.
—CBS News, 8 Apr. 2026
The way different political factions responded to these two events indicated an unspoken, and chilling, tolerance for aggression.
—Orlando Sentinel Editorial Board, The Orlando Sentinel, 8 Apr. 2026
Nationally, the left often concedes first in the name of pragmatism, while more conservative factions hold firm and extract concessions.
—Darius Khalil Gordon, New York Daily News, 7 Apr. 2026
The major New York factions have been defeated, but a new one, the Freeman, has emerged.
—Gieson Cacho, Mercury News, 6 Apr. 2026
The contest has largely split key players and factions in California’s Democratic Party between Campa-Najjar and von Wilpert.
—Lucas Robinson, San Diego Union-Tribune, 5 Apr. 2026
Elected in 1980, Bani Sadr quickly came into conflict with clerical factions over the direction of the revolution and the conduct of the Iran-Iraq war.
—Roxane Razavi, The Conversation, 2 Apr. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for factions
Noun
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Neon Carnival Neon Carnival hits a major milestone this year, celebrating 15 years as one of the festival weekend's most exclusive, invite-only parties known for attracting A-list stars (hey Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce!—
Skyler Caruso,
PEOPLE,
10 Apr. 2026
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Political parties were disincentivized from forming coalitions—which might have unified the anti-Orbán vote—by incrementally raising the threshold required for alliances to enter Parliament.—
Kapil Komireddi,
New Yorker,
10 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
The deal was beneficial for both sides.—
Kansas City Star,
Kansas City Star,
9 Apr. 2026
-
The two sides talked on March 17 and March 24 but have not been able to reach a breakthrough.—
Gene Maddaus,
Variety,
9 Apr. 2026
Noun
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Netflix has become the place for documentaries about true crime, but also documentaries about cults and sects.—
Lizzie Lanuza,
StyleCaster,
10 Apr. 2026
-
There have been reports in the media that some other ethnic sects in southern Lebanon have been allowed to stay despite evacuation orders.—
Isaac Chotiner,
New Yorker,
9 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
Actors who are not in a scene wait in the wings.—
Chris Jones,
New York Daily News,
10 Apr. 2026
-
The structure flaps its wings when powered by electricity.—
Aamir Khollam,
Interesting Engineering,
9 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
Ellison’s team is hoping to have the deal closed by the end of September, while coalitions are forming in the industry to mount an opposition front.—
Erik Hayden,
HollywoodReporter,
15 Apr. 2026
-
At the same time, Muslim groups like Council on American-Islamic Relations and national interfaith coalitions such as Shoulder to Shoulder Campaign have worked with Christians to challenge these portrayals and promote more nuanced understandings of Islam.—
Anna Piela,
The Conversation,
13 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
The teams square off Monday for the fourth time this season.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
12 Apr. 2026
-
For many years, the top pick was determined by a coin flip between the worst teams in the Western and Eastern Conferences.—
Louisa Thomas,
New Yorker,
5 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
Harris’ comments came during the National Action Network’s annual convention, where more than a half-dozen potential candidates appeared this week , hoping to make inroads among Black voters — who comprise one of Democrats’ most powerful blocs.—
Steve Peoples,
Fortune,
10 Apr. 2026
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Advertisement Certainly, Pakistan was especially well-placed to act as a mediator given its unique network across rival blocs.—
Charlie Campbell,
Time,
9 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Factions.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/factions. Accessed 17 Apr. 2026.
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