as in bloody
formal
marked by usually mutual slaughter or destruction
a brutal internecine war/battle internecine feuds a political party that has suffered because of bitter internecine rivalries
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Recent Examples of internecine
Among the many internecine feuds dividing the GOP on Capitol Hill at the moment:
Fiscal conservatives won’t support a budget reconciliation bill that adds to the deficit, but moderates won’t touch big drivers of the federal budget, such as Medicaid.
—
Jonathan Easley, The Hill, 8 May 2025
In recent weeks, U.S. President Donald Trump has threatened to annex allies, bargained Ukrainian sovereignty with Russia behind Kyiv’s back, and launched an internecine trade war.
—Charlie Campbell, Time, 2 May 2025
Despite all of his ambition as a reformer, Francis often had to battle a secret internecine war with Vatican bureaucrats who tried undermining his efforts.
—Danielle Chemtob, Forbes.com, 24 Apr. 2025
In Syria, internecine warfare has already emerged between Kurds in the northeast, former President Assad’s Alawite sect, and transitional President Ahmad al-Sharaa, who led the organization HTS, which the United States designated a terrorist group.
—Bruce Fein, Baltimore Sun, 14 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for internecine
Jonathan Easley, The Hill, 8 May 2025
In recent weeks, U.S. President Donald Trump has threatened to annex allies, bargained Ukrainian sovereignty with Russia behind Kyiv’s back, and launched an internecine trade war.
—Charlie Campbell, Time, 2 May 2025
Despite all of his ambition as a reformer, Francis often had to battle a secret internecine war with Vatican bureaucrats who tried undermining his efforts.
—Danielle Chemtob, Forbes.com, 24 Apr. 2025
In Syria, internecine warfare has already emerged between Kurds in the northeast, former President Assad’s Alawite sect, and transitional President Ahmad al-Sharaa, who led the organization HTS, which the United States designated a terrorist group.
—Bruce Fein, Baltimore Sun, 14 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for internecine
Recent Examples of Synonyms for internecine
Adjective
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As the moon slipped into the deepest part of our planet's shadow — a period known as totality — a phenomenon known as Rayleigh scattering saw the moon adopt a bloody red hue, as sunlight scattered by Earth's atmosphere was bent onto the lunar surface.—
Anthony Wood,
Space.com,
8 Sep. 2025
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In a similar vein, Mandela also oversaw the Truth and Reconciliation Commission, largely credited with helping South Africa avoid a bloody civil war that many saw as inevitable.—
Mary Crossan,
Forbes.com,
8 Sep. 2025
Adjective
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Macbeth, also an unstable Scottish king, blames the witches for the ills caused by his own murderous decisions.—
Emily Zarevich,
JSTOR Daily,
3 Sep. 2025
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With the help of an unpredictable assassin named Louie (Butler, who also plays the Pope), the pair embark on a dark and murderous journey to steal and authenticate the priceless work.—
Nada Aboul Kheir,
Deadline,
3 Sep. 2025
Adjective
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Hurricane Ian, the deadliest storm to hit the state since 1935, made landfall in late September 2022.—
Giulia Carbonaro,
MSNBC Newsweek,
3 Sep. 2025
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She was previously charged with CHILD ABUSE, second-degree domestic assault, use of a deadly weapon to commit a felony.—
Patrick Oppmann,
CNN Money,
2 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Internecine.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/internecine. Accessed 9 Sep. 2025.
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