divisive

/dɪˈvaɪsɪv/ adj

**Divisive** describes anything that pulls people into opposing camps, whether a political issue, a policy decision, or a personality that splits a room. It signals a tendency to breed disagreement rather than consensus. The word often crops up with topics that polarize public opinion, and it can apply whether the splitting effect is intentional or accidental. It focuses on the result—people taking sides—without commenting on the underlying facts. Using **divisive** lets a writer flag a subject as likely to provoke debate, making it a precise tool for highlighting potential conflict.

【核心含义】形容导致人群分裂、形成对立阵营的事物或人,强调引发分歧而非共识的特性。

常与"议题""政策""言论"等词搭配,多用于社会政治语境。注意区别于"controversial"(有争议的),该词更强调实际造成的分裂结果而非观点本身的对立。

【Significado central】Describe aquello que divide a las personas en bandos opuestos, provocando desacuerdo en lugar de consenso.

Se aplica commonly a temas, políticas, figuras públicas o discursos que generan polarización en contextos sociales y políticos (registro formal). Es importante no confundirlo con "controversial" (controvertido): mientras "controversial" solo señala que algo genera debate u opiniones encontradas, "divisive" enfatiza el resultado concreto —la separación real de la gente en grupos enfrentados—. Por ejemplo, una ley puede ser controversial sin ser divisiva si el debate no fragmenta a la sociedad.

Word Origin From Latin dis- 'apart' and videre 'to separate' — literally 'tending to separate apart.' The root videre is not the same as 'see' (videre from *weid-), but a separate root meaning 'to divide' (also in widow, someone separated from a spouse). Divisive things split groups, driving them apart. The -ive suffix means 'having the nature of.'

adj Having a quality that divides or separates.

The politician's divisive rhetoric created deep divisions within the community.

(形容词) 分裂性的

这位政治家分裂性的言论在社区内造成了深刻的分歧。

(adjetivo) divisivo; discordante; polarizante; enfrentador [que tiene una cualidad que divide o separa.]

La retórica divisiva del político creó profundas divisiones dentro de la comunidad.

(adjectif) diviseur; clivant [Qui provoque des divisions, qui oppose les gens ; clivant, controversé.]

La rhétorique clivante (divisive) du politicien a creusé de profondes divisions au sein de la communauté.

(Adjektiv) spaltend; polarisierend; trennend [**divisive** *Adj.* – geeignet, Spaltungen oder Uneinigkeit hervorzurufen; polarisierend.]

Seine **divisive** Haltung führte zu heftigen Debatten innerhalb der Partei.

(形容詞) 分裂を生む。人々の間に対立や不和を引き起こす性質を持っているさま。

その政治家の divisive(分裂を招く)な発言は、地域社会に深い溝を作った。

(adjetivo) divisivo; polarizante; fraturante [Que possui uma qualidade que divide ou separa.]

A retórica divisiva do político criou profundas divisões dentro da comunidade.

Word parts: divis + ive

Common collocations

be verb issue subst socially adv would verb effect subst debate subst most adv become verb more adv rather adv policy subst as prep

Related words

Get offline access, pronunciation, spaced repetition, and learning games:

Download Syntaxiom →
📱 Offline access 🔊 Pronunciation 🧠 Spaced repetition 📖 Native language bridges