infighting

noun

in·​fight·​ing ˈin-ˌfī-tiŋ 

1

: prolonged and often bitter dissension or rivalry among members of a group or organization

bureaucratic infighting

2

: rough-and-tumble fighting

3

: fighting or boxing at close quarters

infight

ˈin-ˌfīt 

intransitive verb

infighter

ˈin-ˌfī-tər 

noun

Synonyms

• conflict
• disaccord
• discord
• discordance
• discordancy
• disharmony
• dissension
• dissention
• dissent
• dissidence
• dissonance
• disunion
• disunity
• division
• friction
• inharmony
• schism
• strife
• variance
• war
• warfare

Examples of infighting in a Sentence

continued infighting has just completely robbed that political action committee of its effectiveness

Recent Examples on the Web

There might be some infighting, but there isn’t much choice. —Isaac Chotiner, New Yorker, 2 Apr. 2025

Democratic infighting returns to Capitol Hill The fallout from this month’s effort to avert a government shutdown is still reverberating in the Democratic Party, a dynamic that is poised to continue this week as lawmakers return to the Capitol for the first time since the fiasco. —Mychael Schnell, The Hill, 24 Mar. 2025

Democrats amp up infighting and 'unhinged petulance' as approval rating plummets Trump is openly defying court orders. —Nicole Russell, USA TODAY, 20 Mar. 2025

Her second term has been plagued with scandal and political infighting. —Carlie Kollath Wells, Axios, 18 Mar. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1816, in the meaning defined at sense 3

Rhymes for infighting

• alighting
• backbiting
• bullfighting
• daylighting
• delighting
• exciting
• firefighting
• handwriting
• highlighting
• igniting
• inciting
• indicting