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
The Council on Foreign Relations currently tracks almost 30 conflict zones around the world, including both internecine and international struggles.
—
Elizabeth D. Samet, Foreign Affairs, 29 Oct. 2025
Though Xi, 72, retains a firm grip on power, the lack of successors has raised fears of an internecine struggle, The New York Times reported.
—Ben Smith, semafor.com, 24 Oct. 2025
Forgery is a really complicated, even internecine, phenomenon.
—JSTOR Daily, 16 Oct. 2025
While it is largely remembered today as an Arab revolt against British rule, it was also marked by internecine violence, with Husseini using it as an opportunity to consolidate control and murder those who threatened his rule.
—Sean Durns, The Washington Examiner, 12 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for internecine
Elizabeth D. Samet, Foreign Affairs, 29 Oct. 2025
Though Xi, 72, retains a firm grip on power, the lack of successors has raised fears of an internecine struggle, The New York Times reported.
—Ben Smith, semafor.com, 24 Oct. 2025
Forgery is a really complicated, even internecine, phenomenon.
—JSTOR Daily, 16 Oct. 2025
While it is largely remembered today as an Arab revolt against British rule, it was also marked by internecine violence, with Husseini using it as an opportunity to consolidate control and murder those who threatened his rule.
—Sean Durns, The Washington Examiner, 12 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for internecine
Recent Examples of Synonyms for internecine
Adjective
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In response, her government unleashed a brutal and bloody crackdown that only galvanized the movement and brought more people onto the streets.—
Rhea Mogul,
CNN Money,
10 Feb. 2026
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Disney and 20th Century’s bloody comedy-thriller, which follows a dorky, survival-savvy employee (Rachel McAdams) and her douchey younger boss (Dylan O’Brien) who become stranded together on a remote island, should add $9 million to $10 million by Sunday for a total domestic gross of $34 million.—
Jack Dunn,
Variety,
7 Feb. 2026
Adjective
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Performers who flirt with murderous rhetoric and ideologies hardly make ideal mascots for the pro-Palestine movement, or for anyone else who advocates to end, not intensify, violence in the Middle East.—
Spencer Kornhaber,
The Atlantic,
11 Feb. 2026
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Both address the consequences of Brazil’s murderous 21-year military dictatorship.—
Lisa Rosen,
Los Angeles Times,
11 Feb. 2026
Adjective
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Administration public health officials often cite the need to restore trust in public health systems after the coronavirus pandemic, when vaccine policy and the general public health response to the deadly pandemic became a highly polarizing topic in American politics.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
9 Feb. 2026
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The Metropolitan Police Department made another arrest in connection with a deadly 2023 shooting outside a Northeast Washington nightclub that killed former Morgan State University basketball player Blake Bozeman and injured three others.—
7News WJLA,
Baltimore Sun,
9 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Internecine.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/internecine. Accessed 14 Feb. 2026.
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