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
Related Words
Relevance
Dissimilar Words
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of internecine
After World War II, the United States crafted a network of alliances in the region, hoping to keep Soviet expansion at bay, entrench its own military presence—particularly in East Asia—and curb internecine tensions among its partners.
—
Ely Ratner, Foreign Affairs, 27 May 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
Discourse is solidly left-leaning, and disagreements tend to be internecine.
—Kyle Chayka, New Yorker, 7 Apr. 2025
The politicization of the IC comes with risks beyond just losing staff and fostering internecine battles.
—Peter Schroeder, Foreign Affairs, 17 Jan. 2025
See All Example Sentences for internecine
Ely Ratner, Foreign Affairs, 27 May 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
Discourse is solidly left-leaning, and disagreements tend to be internecine.
—Kyle Chayka, New Yorker, 7 Apr. 2025
The politicization of the IC comes with risks beyond just losing staff and fostering internecine battles.
—Peter Schroeder, Foreign Affairs, 17 Jan. 2025
See All Example Sentences for internecine
Recent Examples of Synonyms for internecine
Adjective
-
After watching in terror as a man violently attacked a police officer in an El Cajon fast-food restaurant, Iesha Booker checked for a pulse on the bloody, unconscious officer and yelled into the radio on his belt.—
Karen Kucher,
sandiegouniontribune.com,
19 July 2017
-
Photos of the man in a hospital bed with a bloody mouth were also posted.—
Jonece Starr Dunigan,
AL.com,
14 July 2017
Adjective
-
Now single, Julie is living a happily quiet life after narrowly surviving two rounds of attacks by murderous fisherman, Ben Willis (Muse Watson), in the late ‘90s.—
Brian Davids,
HollywoodReporter,
14 July 2025
-
Tony Goldwyn got some hate for his role as the film’s villain Tony Goldwyn recalled to the A.V. Club in 2014 that his role as the conniving, murderous Carl prompted a waitress to refuse to serve him.—
Drew Mackie,
People.com,
13 July 2025
Adjective
-
Wetlands need restoration to once again catch phosphorus that pours from extinct volcanoes and prevent the growth of deadly algae.—
Shaun McKinnon,
AZCentral.com,
15 July 2025
-
Scene Breakdown: Embrace AI Convention - From a dance battle to a blood fest, this breakdown will show how each department worked together to create this epic and deadly sequence.—
Tim Lammers,
Forbes.com,
14 July 2025
Cite this Entry
“Internecine.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/internecine. Accessed 22 Jul. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share