fault-lines
Where earthquakes originate
Fault-lines are cracks in the earth's crust where tectonic plates meet and shift, causing earthquakes.
The figurative sense dominates contemporary usage: fault-lines are divisions where conflict is likely to erupt.
The debate exposed fault-lines within the party.
Racial fault-lines run through American society.
Also spelled as one word: faultlines.
Clashes over differing positions
- hostilitiesActive armed fighting
- strifeAngry, prolonged conflict
- clashViolent disagreement or collision
- discordLack of agreement
antagonism · rivalry · contention · confrontation · struggle · flashpoints · geopolitical · sectarian
Relating to ground tremors
- tectonicsStudy of crustal deformation
- earthquakesSudden ground movement
- tremorsSlight shaking movements
- epicenterPoint above seismic origin
subduction · lithosphere · rupture · slip · plate boundaries · San Andreas · shockwaves · aftershocks
Narrow surface breaks
- fissuresNarrow splits in material
- fracturesBreaks in rigid material
- stressPressure, mental or vocal
- strainExcessive stretching force
weakness · breaks · splits · gaps · instability · pressure points · vulnerabilities · flaws
Source of potential harm
- vulnerabilityOpenness to harm
- exposureState of being unprotected
- threatIndication of potential harm
- assessmentFormal evaluation of worth
mitigation · mapping · monitoring · prediction · early warning · preparedness · resilience · catastrophe
Separate portions of something
- polarizationSeparation into opposing extremes
- inequalityUnequal distribution of resources
- racialConcerning ethnic origin
- classGrouping by shared traits
ethnic · religious · political · cultural · ideological · demographic · generational · economic
disputes
Clashes over differing positions
- hostilitiesActive armed fighting
- strifeAngry, prolonged conflict
- clashViolent disagreement or collision
discord · antagonism · rivalry · contention · confrontation · struggle · flashpoints · geopolitical · sectarian · tribal
seismic
Relating to ground tremors
- tectonicsStudy of crustal deformation
- earthquakesSudden ground movement
- tremorsSlight shaking movements
epicenter · subduction · lithosphere · rupture · slip · plate boundaries · San Andreas · shockwaves · aftershocks · magnitude
cracks
Narrow surface breaks
strain · weakness · breaks · splits · gaps · instability · pressure points · vulnerabilities · flaws · defects
hazard
Source of potential harm
- vulnerabilityOpenness to harm
- exposureState of being unprotected
- threatIndication of potential harm
assessment · mitigation · mapping · monitoring · prediction · early warning · preparedness · resilience · catastrophe · prevention
divisions
Separate portions of something
- polarizationSeparation into opposing extremes
- inequalityUnequal distribution of resources
- racialConcerning ethnic origin
class · ethnic · religious · political · cultural · ideological · demographic · generational · economic · systemic
fault-linescommon ground
Points of agreement
unity · consensus · solidarity · cohesion · shared values
fault-linesstructural integrity
Wholeness under load
strong points · reinforcements · solid foundation · buttresses · supports
fault, line, faults, lines, faulted, faulting, faulty, faultless, faultlessly