Riven
verb
To tear apart or split.
The community was riven by the controversial decision.
Often appears as...
- riven by conflict
- riven with guilt
adjective
Full of conflict or argument.
The political party was riven by internal divisions.
Often appears as...
- riven society
- riven organization
verb
To break or upset something.
His reputation was riven by the scandal.
Often appears as...
- riven reputation
- riven by scandal
verb
To tear apart or split.
The community was riven by the controversial decision.
Often appears as...
- riven by conflict
- riven with guilt
adjective
Full of conflict or argument.
The political party was riven by internal divisions.
Often appears as...
- riven society
- riven organization
verb
To break or upset something.
His reputation was riven by the scandal.
Often appears as...
- riven reputation
- riven by scandal
Definition 1 of 3
Pro Tip 1/2Conflict and Separation
Use 'riven' to describe profound and often painful divisions that are difficult to resolve.
The family was riven after the will was read.
Pro Tip 2/2Metaphorical Use
It's often used metaphorically to talk about separation in relationships and groups, not just physical objects.
The team was riven by disagreements on the new strategy.
Pro Tip 1/2Conflict and Separation
Use 'riven' to describe profound and often painful divisions that are difficult to resolve.
The family was riven after the will was read.
Pro Tip 2/2Metaphorical Use
It's often used metaphorically to talk about separation in relationships and groups, not just physical objects.
The team was riven by disagreements on the new strategy.
Pro Tip 1/2Conflict and Separation
Use 'riven' to describe profound and often painful divisions that are difficult to resolve.
The family was riven after the will was read.
Pro Tip 2/2Metaphorical Use
It's often used metaphorically to talk about separation in relationships and groups, not just physical objects.
The team was riven by disagreements on the new strategy.
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Video examples
The path to ending...
the unbearable acts of violence that we've -- Acts of violence against the black community that we've witnessed, the dangers to a nation riven by anger and fear. And how on earth we can move forward from this to something better.
Video examples
The path to ending...
the unbearable acts of violence that we've -- Acts of violence against the black community that we've witnessed, the dangers to a nation riven by anger and fear. And how on earth we can move forward from this to something better.
Example 1 of 1
Quote examples
Jeffrey Eugenides
American Novelist
I mean, when I got to Brown, the place was riven, because you had older professors who were basically new critics and had been teaching a certain way for 30 years. And then you had this other gang who was down with the semiotic program. And as a student, you were, in a way, forced to choose which cohort you were going with.
Quote examples
Sabine Baring-Gould
English Clergyman
We are accustomed in England to chalk in rolling downs, except where bitten into by the sea, but elsewhere it is riven and presents cliffs, and these cliffs are not at all like that of Shakespeare at Dover but overhang, where hard beds alternate with others that are friable.
Quote examples
Pankaj Mishra
Indian Novelist
To Westerners, the students at Tiananmen may have given an impression of a solid and energetic consensus against dictatorship and for democracy, but they were an egotistical and fractious lot, riven by disagreements over tactics and money.
Quote examples
Sabine Baring-Gould
English Clergyman
In the depths of the moor, the peat may be seen riven like floes of ice, and the rifts are sometimes twelve to fourteen feet deep, cut through black vegetable matter, the product of decay of plants through countless generations.
Quote examples
Melvyn Bragg
English Journalist
In music, the Specials brought a city, Coventry, bombed out for a second time and riven with racism, to a celebration between black and white musicians and their music.
Quote examples
Chang-Rae Lee
South Korean Novelist
Like most people, I'm fascinated by characters who are completely flawed personalities, riven by anguish and doubt, and are psychologically suspect.
Quote examples
Jeffrey Eugenides
American Novelist
I mean, when I got to Brown, the place was riven, because you had older professors who were basically new critics and had been teaching a certain way for 30 years. And then you had this other gang who was down with the semiotic program. And as a student, you were, in a way, forced to choose which cohort you were going with.
Quote examples
Sabine Baring-Gould
English Clergyman
We are accustomed in England to chalk in rolling downs, except where bitten into by the sea, but elsewhere it is riven and presents cliffs, and these cliffs are not at all like that of Shakespeare at Dover but overhang, where hard beds alternate with others that are friable.
Quote examples
Pankaj Mishra
Indian Novelist
To Westerners, the students at Tiananmen may have given an impression of a solid and energetic consensus against dictatorship and for democracy, but they were an egotistical and fractious lot, riven by disagreements over tactics and money.
Quote examples
Sabine Baring-Gould
English Clergyman
In the depths of the moor, the peat may be seen riven like floes of ice, and the rifts are sometimes twelve to fourteen feet deep, cut through black vegetable matter, the product of decay of plants through countless generations.
Quote examples
Melvyn Bragg
English Journalist
In music, the Specials brought a city, Coventry, bombed out for a second time and riven with racism, to a celebration between black and white musicians and their music.
Quote examples
Chang-Rae Lee
South Korean Novelist
Like most people, I'm fascinated by characters who are completely flawed personalities, riven by anguish and doubt, and are psychologically suspect.
Example 1 of 6
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