divisiveness
Wedge-driving social force
Divisiveness is the quality of causing disagreement or hostility between groups.
A divisive issue splits people into opposing camps; divisiveness is that splitting tendency itself.
The word often appears in political contexts: The divisiveness of the debate made compromise impossible.
Critics may call something divisive to suggest it shouldn't be raised, while supporters might argue the issue matters regardless of its divisiveness.
Loyalty to one faction
- factionalismDivision into opposing cliques
- extremismIdeology beyond accepted norms
- radicalizationShift toward extreme ideology
- schismFormal organizational fracture
wedge · chasm · gulf · split · dichotomy · tribalism · ideological · duality
Absence of accord
- riftCrack or estrangement
- separationState of being apart
- fractureSplit in hard material
- splinteringBreaking into sharp fragments
breakup · disintegration · estrangement · severance · bifurcation · balkanization · fissure · rupture
Angry, prolonged conflict
- discordLack of agreement
- hostilityAntagonistic disposition toward others
- antagonismActive opposition or hostility
- animosityActive, bitter hostility
contention · clash · feud · dispute · quarrel · tension · confrontation · fighting
Manipulating electoral boundaries strategically
- demagogueryManipulative political rhetoric
- propagandaBiased information for influence
- fearmongeringDeliberately spreading exaggerated threats
- populismPolitics favoring ordinary citizens
nationalism · misinformation · radicalism · inflammatory · incitement · mudslinging · talking-points
Being barred from participation
- marginalizationRelegation to powerless periphery
- ostracismBanishment from a group
- otheringViewing as fundamentally different
- isolationComplete separation from others
rejection · disenfranchisement · scapegoating · demonization · stigmatization · segregation · discrimination · outcast
partisanship
Loyalty to one faction
- factionalismDivision into opposing cliques
- extremismIdeology beyond accepted norms
- radicalizationShift toward extreme ideology
schism · wedge · chasm · gulf · split · dichotomy · tribalism · ideological · duality · polarity
disunity
Absence of accord
- riftCrack or estrangement
- separationState of being apart
- fractureSplit in hard material
splintering · breakup · disintegration · estrangement · severance · bifurcation · balkanization · fissure · rupture · disconnection
strife
Angry, prolonged conflict
- discordLack of agreement
- hostilityAntagonistic disposition toward others
- antagonismActive opposition or hostility
animosity · contention · clash · feud · dispute · quarrel · tension · confrontation · fighting · belligerence
gerrymandering
Manipulating electoral boundaries strategically
- demagogueryManipulative political rhetoric
- propagandaBiased information for influence
- fearmongeringDeliberately spreading exaggerated threats
populism · nationalism · misinformation · radicalism · inflammatory · incitement · mudslinging · talking-points
exclusion
Being barred from participation
- marginalizationRelegation to powerless periphery
- ostracismBanishment from a group
- otheringViewing as fundamentally different
isolation · rejection · disenfranchisement · scapegoating · demonization · stigmatization · segregation · discrimination · outcast · displacement
- public opinionpublic opinion, public sentiment, polls, poll, approval
- tribalismtribalism, in-group, out-group, outgroup, ingroup
- polarizationpolarizer, polarized light, polarizing filter, partisanship, bifurcation
- politicsdemocracy, campaigning, campaigns, democrats, bill
- political tacticscampaigning, gerrymandering, filibuster, campaigns, voter suppression
- groupthinkecho chamber, hive mind, groupthink, herd mentality, mob mentality
divisivenessunity
Wholeness through cohesion
unification · cohesion · togetherness · solidarity · inclusiveness
divisivenessconsensus
General group agreement
agreement · accord · concord · unanimity · concurrence
divisivenessharmony
Agreement or musical blend
peace · concord · peacefulness · amity · tranquility
divide, division, individual, divided, devise, divider, divisive, subdivision, divisions