Internecine definition

ĭntər-nĕsēn, -ĭn, -nēsīn

Deadly or harmful to both sides of a group involved in a conflict, as a civil war; mutually destructive or harmful.

adjective

Mutually destructive; ruinous or fatal to both sides.

adjective

(now rare) Full of slaughter or destruction.

adjective

Characterized by bloodshed or carnage.

adjective

The definition of internecine is something that is harmful or destructive to both sides involved.

An example of internecine was the Civil War.

adjective

Of or involving conflict within a group.

adjective

Internecine strife in Gaza claimed its most senior victim yesterday when militants assassinated one of the most hated security chiefs there.

adjective

Characterized by struggle within a group, usually applied to an ethnic or familial relationship.

The Mongol people were plagued by internecine conflict until Genghis Khan unified them and focused their aggression outwards on other peoples.

adjective

Of or relating to struggle within a nation, organization, or group.

adjective

Origin of internecine

Latin internecīnus destructive variant of internecīvus from internecāre to slaughter inter- intensive pref. inter– nex nec- death nek-¹ in Indo-European roots

From American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition
From Latin internecīvus, deadly, alternatively, Latin inter (between) and necare (to slay).

From Wiktionary