Definitions

from The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition.

  • adjective Creating dissension or discord.

from The Century Dictionary.

  • Forming or expressing division or distribution.
  • Creating division or discord: as, divisive courses.

from the GNU version of the Collaborative International Dictionary of English.

  • adjective Indicating division or distribution.
  • adjective Creating, or tending to create, division, separation, or difference.

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License.

  • adjective Having a quality that divides or separates

from WordNet 3.0 Copyright 2006 by Princeton University. All rights reserved.

  • adjective dissenting (especially dissenting with the majority opinion)

Etymologies

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Examples

  • LEMON: Obama says he rejects what he calls divisive and distorted remarks by his former pastor, the Reverend Jeremiah Wright.

    CNN Transcript Mar 18, 2008 2008

  • Illinois Congressman Jesse Jackson Jr., who is a co-chairman of the Obama campaign, issued a statement saying, "I'm deeply outraged and disappointed in the reckless statements," which he calls divisive and demeaning, and says, "They contradict his inspiring and courageous career."

    CNN Transcript Jul 9, 2008 2008

  • And Senator Obama blasting his former pastor for making what he called divisive and destructive remarks about race and politics.

    CNN Transcript Apr 29, 2008 2008

  • Illinois Congressman Jesse Jackson Jr., who is a co-chairman of the Obama campaign, issued a statement saying, "I'm deeply outraged and disappointed in the reckless statements," which he calls divisive and demeaning, and says, "They contradict his inspiring and courageous career."

    CNN Transcript Jul 10, 2008 2008

  • Two Cosatu leaders on Tuesday sharply condemned what they described as divisive internal squabbles in the African National Congress.

    ANC Daily News Briefing 2007

  • The Carr campaign news release, which noted the Roosevelt altercation as well as three other incidents - a mix of statements and actions that Carr deemed that were described as "divisive" - concluded that Martin's style is "completely out of line for someone running for our district's school board."

    The Seattle Times 2011

  • Pelosi also faulted Republicans for pushing what she called a divisive agenda that will compromise the economic security of the middle class.

    The Seattle Times 2011

  • Most of those who commented blasted Cherry for what they called a divisive rant.

    The Globe and Mail - Home RSS feed 2010

  • Most of those who commented blasted Mr. Cherry for what they called a divisive rant.

    The Globe and Mail - Home RSS feed 2010

  • Most of those who commented blasted Cherry for what they called a divisive rant.

    The Globe and Mail - Home RSS feed 2010

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