Find the synonyms or antonyms of a word



Synonyms for internecine


Grammar : Adj
Spell : in-ter-nee-seen, -sahyn, -nes-een, -nes-ahyn
Phonetic Transcription : ˌɪn tərˈni sin, -saɪn, -ˈnɛs in, -ˈnɛs aɪn



Définition of internecine

Origin :
  • 1660s, "deadly, destructive," from Latin internecinus "very deadly, murderous, destructive," from internecare "kill or destroy," from inter (see inter-) + necare "kill" (see noxious). Considered in the OED as misinterpreted in Johnson's Dictionary [1755], which defined it as "endeavouring mutual destruction," on association of inter- with "mutual" when the prefix supposedly is used in this case as an intensive. From Johnson, wrongly or not, has come the main modern definition of "mutually destructive."
  • adj involving conflict within a group
  • adj mutually harmful
Example sentences :
  • Internecine destruction probably has a meaning we can only guess at.
  • Extract from : « The Conquest of Fear » by Basil King
  • They would have been led on by internecine warfare to mutual destruction.
  • Extract from : « The Last Voyage » by Lady (Annie Allnutt) Brassey
  • I will not believe that we stand to-day in danger of internecine war!
  • Extract from : « The Long Roll » by Mary Johnston
  • The key is, no doubt, to be found in the internecine jealousies of the sections.
  • Extract from : « A History of the United States » by Cecil Chesterton
  • He was one internecine battle, and he became cruel to her because of it.
  • Extract from : « Sons and Lovers » by David Herbert Lawrence
  • Then, at last, he was moved to an internecine fight with Antony.
  • Extract from : « The Life of Cicero » by Anthony Trollope
  • The strife, because it was to be internecine, was the more terrible.
  • Extract from : « Mr. Crewe's Career, Complete » by Winston Churchill
  • You have come just in time to save us, most likely, from an internecine strife which might have ruined us all.
  • Extract from : « Hidden Gold » by Wilder Anthony
  • Since that time, an internecine war had arisen in the dominant party.
  • Extract from : « Thirty Years' View (Vol. II of 2) » by Thomas Hart Benton
  • There is internecine war in man between the reason and the passions.
  • Extract from : « The Thoughts of Blaise Pascal » by Blaise Pascal

Words or expressions associated with your search


Most wanted synonyms

Based on : Thesaurus.com - Gutenberg.org - Dictionary.com - Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019