divisive
/dɪˈvʌɪsɪv
/adjective
Tending to cause disagreement or hostility between people: the highly divisive issue of abortion...
- The abortion issue has opened up the historically divisive issue to wider debate.
- Abortion has always been a very polarising, divisive issue that is irreconcilable.
- The Trade Ministers will attempt to build bridges in the divisive but linchpin issue of farm trade.
Synonyms
alienating, estranging, isolating, schismatic;
discordant, disharmonious, inharmonious
Derivatives
divisively
- ‘Never trust anyone over 30,’ they used to say, divisively.
- The play will bring the 20th Century's most ‘notorious tyrant’ daringly and divisively on to the stage.
- But I did witness him destroy characters who criticised our great leaders and act divisively in my party.
Origin
Mid 16th century (as a noun denoting something that divides or separates): from late Latin divisivus, from Latin dividere (see divide).