riven

adjective

riv·​en ˈri-vən How to pronounce riven (audio)
: split apart
riven wood [=wood split apart along the grain]
: divided into pieces or factions
a riven nation
… beautifully nuanced portraits of a riven people, separated by more than an ocean.Mylène Dressler

Examples of riven in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web His reckless prewar policy of dividing Israelis made the country vulnerable, tempting Iran’s allies to strike at a riven society. Aluf Benn, Foreign Affairs, 7 Feb. 2024 Thousands converged on the National Mall on Saturday for the 60th anniversary of Rev. Martin Luther King Jr.’s March on Washington, saying a country that remains riven by racial inequality has yet to fulfill his dream. Aaron Morrison, Chicago Tribune, 26 Aug. 2023 This riven Martian arctic was a mystery to scientists for over forty years. Joseph Calamia, Discover Magazine, 19 Nov. 2019 Its leaves were glossy and dark green, its bark riven like a mountain range seen from above. Zoë Schlanger, The Atlantic, 23 Oct. 2023 The raucous debate over the United Kingdom’s continued membership in the EU was riven with lies and misrepresentations, some of which are now being explicitly rolled back by Brexit advocates; even the British press rues its bombastic support for the Leave side. Kathleen R. McNamara, Foreign Affairs, 28 June 2016 Heroism, riven with risk, is available only to those who take action. Anthony Lane, The New Yorker, 22 Dec. 2023 Ultimately, American Gun is an indictment on a paranoid, apocalyptic country, riven with people who cannot help but see their neighbors, as well as their own government, as perpetual threats that must be met with deadly force. Colin Dickey, The New Republic, 23 Oct. 2023 Nearly every institution—campuses, synagogues, families—seemed riven by internal conflict. Andrew Marantz, The New Yorker, 2 Nov. 2023

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'riven.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

First Known Use

circa 1560, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of riven was circa 1560

Dictionary Entries Near riven

Cite this Entry

“Riven.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/riven. Accessed 28 Mar. 2024.

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