infighting
Conflict within groups
Infighting is conflict or rivalry among members of the same group, organization, or faction.
It suggests internal power struggles, petty disputes, or competition for influence that happens behind closed doors rather than in public view.
The party's infighting cost them the election.
In boxing, infighting refers to close-range combat where fighters exchange blows at close quarters, which inspired the metaphorical sense of bitter internal conflict.
Division into opposing cliques
- cliquesExclusive social groups
- schismFormal organizational fracture
- splinteringBreaking into sharp fragments
- cabalsGroups plotting in shadows
backstabbing · politicking · intrigue · jockeying · maneuvering · sectarianism · divisiveness · caucuses
Complete disorder and confusion
- disarrayLack of order
- upheavalViolent disturbance of order
- instabilityTendency toward unpredictable change
- crisisDecisive dangerous moment
unrest · disruption · disunity · dysfunction · breakdown · implosion · meltdown · fracturing
Trivial noisy argument
- feudBitter ongoing rivalry
- bickeringPetty verbal sparring
- quarrelAngry verbal dispute
- disputeVerbal clash over differences
clash · friction · spat · tiff · wrangle · altercation · strife · contention
Struggle for supremacy
- rivalsThose who compete
- adversariesThose who oppose you
- competitorsThose seeking same goal
- contendersThose seeking to win
opponents · challengers · vying · sparring · one-upmanship · jealousy · envy · jockeying
factionalism
Division into opposing cliques
- cliquesExclusive social groups
- schismFormal organizational fracture
- splinteringBreaking into sharp fragments
cabals · backstabbing · politicking · intrigue · jockeying · maneuvering · sectarianism · divisiveness · caucuses · partisanship
chaos
Complete disorder and confusion
- disarrayLack of order
- upheavalViolent disturbance of order
- instabilityTendency toward unpredictable change
crisis · unrest · disruption · disunity · dysfunction · breakdown · implosion · meltdown · fracturing · fragmentation
squabble
Trivial noisy argument
dispute · clash · friction · spat · tiff · wrangle · altercation · strife · contention · disagreement
competition
Struggle for supremacy
- rivalsThose who compete
- adversariesThose who oppose you
- competitorsThose seeking same goal
contenders · opponents · challengers · vying · sparring · one-upmanship · jealousy · envy · jockeying · tension
- boxingjab, uppercut, hook, punch, knockout
- fightingboxing, kickboxing, MMA, judo, karate
- power strugglesdominance, supremacy, takeover, overthrow, control
- workplace conflictspower struggles, disagreements, arguments, office politics, turf wars
- fight tacticsfootwork, feints, combinations, timing, distance control
- office politicsoffice politics, backstabbing, power plays, favoritism, nepotism
infightingharmony
Agreement or musical blend
unity · cooperation · accord · concord · solidarity
infightingunity
Wholeness through cohesion
solidarity · cohesion · united front · unification · common cause
fight, fighting, fighter, fights, fought, fighters, infight, infights, infighter