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divide

divide

110 6.0
A strong disagreement between groups that causes tension
  • noun
  • /dɪˈvaɪd/
translation icon : brecha
  • And is there some growing divide between Christians and Jews?
  • digital divide
  • bridge the divide
  • racial divide

How explicitly do you see this divide being reflected in the outcome?

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Examples

  • The people are concerned over the continued rise in violence and about the remaining deep divides in their society.

  • But there is still a big divide between rich countries and poor countries.

  • So it's a, there is a big divide between the people and the government.

  • It's so easy to forget how great the economic divide is these days.

  • We know the gender divide exists between women and men.

  • And during this time there was a very big racial divide.

  • There's a large and growing class divide in family life.

  • Across the Middle East, the Sunni-Shiite divide is of growing importance.

    Academic text (2008)
  • According to Yancey (2003), a significant racial divide still exists between Blacks and Whites.

    Academic text (2013)
  • There is a significant divide between urban and rural communities in terms of access to healthcare.

Synonyms

fight
vsdivide
675 2.4

A strong argument between people or groups, often public

is more neutral, naming serious disagreement even without public or prolonged fighting
difference
vsdivide
565 1.9

A disagreement between people or groups

is more intense, focusing on serious disagreement that creates group tension
conflict
vsdivide
397 2.3

A serious disagreement between people or groups over ideas

emphasizes a lasting group-level division rather than any single argument
struggle
vsdivide
290 2.9

A serious fight between groups to gain control

is less about active fighting and more about the existence of deep disagreement
disagreement
vsdivide
268 1.6

A situation when people do not have the same opinion

is stronger, implying serious hostility and tension rather than mere differing views
division
vsdivide
138 4.2

A strong disagreement that separates people in a group

is the general idea of serious disagreement creating tension between groups
clash
vsdivide
105 3.2

A short conflict between people or groups

is the wider term for the serious disagreement that can cause such fights
split
vsdivide
100 4.2

A division in a group that makes two opposing parts

is broader, focusing on serious disagreement causing tension rather than the act of breaking
strife
vsdivide
58 6.6

Serious disagreement and fighting among people

is broader, covering serious disagreement that may not reach violence
rift
vsdivide
34 5.4

A serious break between people or groups that causes conflict

is broader, meaning serious disagreement even without an actual separation
contention
vsdivide
34 6.5

A strong disagreement between people or groups

is the broader label for serious disagreement that may or may not be heated
discord
vsdivide
26 5.6

Strong disagreement between people or groups

is more about a single serious disagreement that creates tension
schism
vsdivide
18 8.7

A serious split in a group when people have different beliefs or opinions

is wider, covering any serious disagreement not only formal organizational splits
dissension
vsdivide
16 7.5

A disagreement and arguing between people who must work together

is the general term for serious disagreement between separate groups
fragmentation
vsdivide
  • Specialized
9 6.8

When a group or society breaks into smaller parts and loses shared values

is the immediate serious disagreement that may cause such gradual breaking apart
friction between
vsdivide
7 4.0

Tension between people or groups that causes disagreement

is the core serious disagreement that often causes such ongoing tension
disunity
vsdivide
4 6.4

A situation when people or groups do not agree

is the core disagreement that often causes this lack of unity
factionalism
vsdivide
2 8.8

Small groups inside a larger group compete and disagree, causing conflict

is the main serious disagreement between groups, not only internal subgroup rivalry
disunion
vsdivide
1 8.1

A situation when people or groups are not united

is the underlying serious disagreement that can lead to such breakdown
discordance
vsdivide
1 8.1

A situation where people or groups disagree and feel tension

is the primary legal or social disagreement that starts such lack of harmony

Antonyms

65 3.7

To bring people or things together into one group

Compounds

2 6.8

A high mountain line that divides rivers flowing to the Pacific from those flowing to the Atlantic and Arctic oceans

continental divide
  • Specialized
1 7.4

A line of high land on a continent that separates rivers flowing to different oceans

A high mountain line that separates rivers flowing to the Pacific from those flowing to the Atlantic and Arctic Oceans

How Serious

schism
18 8.7
rift
34 5.4
divide
110 6.0
difference
565 1.9
disagreement
268 1.6

Surface Forms

divide singular
divides plural

Etymology

Divide comes from an old Latin verb dividere that meant 'to force apart', with the part di- meaning 'apart'. So a social or political divide is like a strong line or wall that separates people and their views.