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YOUR VOCABULARY, ONE WORD AT A TIME

internecine

Adjective

IPA /ˌɪntəˈniːsaɪn/

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Meaning in plain English

Involving destructive conflict between members of the same group.

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Pronunciation

internecine/ˌɪntəˈniːsaɪn/

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  1. Members belong to the same organisation

  2. Rival factions fight one another

  3. The internal conflict damages the group

An internecine struggle occurs within a group and harms its members.

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  1. The novel follows an internecine struggle within a powerful family.
  2. Internecine disputes distracted the department from its teaching work.

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The novel follows an ________ struggle within a powerful family.
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internecine — Involving destructive conflict between members of the same group.

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Involving destructive conflict between members of the same group.

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Word origin

From Latin internecinus, related to inter-, meaning among, and necare, meaning kill.

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Internecine commonly describes a feud, struggle or conflict within a group.

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internecine

/ˌɪntəˈniːsaɪn/ (Adjective)

“Formal: internecine concerns conflict inside one group, rather than a conflict between unrelated groups.”

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