divisive
adjective
di·vi·sive
də-ˈvī-siv 
also
-ˈvi-
or -ziv
: creating disunity or dissension
a divisive issue
divisive rhetoric
divisively
adverb
divisiveness
noun
Examples of divisive in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
What could be more symbolic of a world uniting in divisive times than literally splicing together a handful of geographically separate events for a global audience to consume as a more or less cohesive whole?
—
Judy Berman, Time, 7 Feb. 2026
Mercy Culture has courted controversy and gained influence in some conservative circles with its often-divisive rhetoric and ambition.
—Sarah Bahari, Dallas Morning News, 6 Feb. 2026
The case has dredged up memories from one the darkest chapters in LAPD history, while also sparking a debate within the department about about when officers should be disciplined for sharing or displaying images of divisive figures.
—Los Angeles Times, 6 Feb. 2026
But that would be a divisive spectacle.
—Orlando Sentinel Editorial Board, The Orlando Sentinel, 6 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for divisive
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Judy Berman, Time, 7 Feb. 2026
Mercy Culture has courted controversy and gained influence in some conservative circles with its often-divisive rhetoric and ambition.
—Sarah Bahari, Dallas Morning News, 6 Feb. 2026
The case has dredged up memories from one the darkest chapters in LAPD history, while also sparking a debate within the department about about when officers should be disciplined for sharing or displaying images of divisive figures.
—Los Angeles Times, 6 Feb. 2026
But that would be a divisive spectacle.
—Orlando Sentinel Editorial Board, The Orlando Sentinel, 6 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for divisive
Cite this Entry
“Divisive.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/divisive. Accessed 15 Feb. 2026.
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