feud

1 of 2

noun (1)

: a mutual enmity or quarrel that is often prolonged or inveterate (see inveterate sense 2)
especially : blood feud
Because of a family feud, they did not see each other for a decade.
feud intransitive verb

feud

2 of 2

noun (2)

Examples of feud in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Noun
The William-Harry feud generated headlines again in 2023 following the release of Prince Harry's memoir, Spare. Elizabeth Logan, Glamour, 14 Mar. 2024 Yass is the biggest donor to the conservative organization Club for Growth, which is currently paying former Trump senior counselor Kellyanne Conway to defend TikTok on Capitol Hill and which recently reconciled with Trump after a feud last year. Jeff Stein, Washington Post, 12 Mar. 2024 Perez plays Alex Claremont-Diaz, the son of America's first female president, who strikes up an unprecedented romance with England's Prince Henry (Galitzine) following a long-standing feud. Kirsty Hatcher, Peoplemag, 11 Mar. 2024 For instance, Matt Damon – with whom Kimmel has had a comedic feud for years – will very likely be roasted onstage. Elizabeth Wagmeister, CNN, 8 Mar. 2024 Three years ago, 16-year-old Cornelius Foster Jr. was killed in a shooting that, according to court testimony, stemmed from a feud between neighborhood gangs. The Enquirer, 8 Mar. 2024 The feud’s early days were civil, with few barbs traded in public. Morgan Meaker, WIRED, 4 Mar. 2024 The feud continued to fester as Trump has tightened his grip over the Republican Party since leaving office, often wielding his influence over key legislative issues and diminishing McConnell’s own control over his conference. Sara Dorn, Forbes, 28 Feb. 2024 The feud led to multiple shootings and a several homicides. The Enquirer, 8 Mar. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'feud.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Noun (1)

alteration of Middle English feide, from Anglo-French *faide, of Germanic origin; akin to Old High German fēhida hostility, feud, Old English fāh hostile — more at foe

Noun (2)

Medieval Latin feodum, feudum, alteration (probably influenced by Medieval Latin alodum, allodium land not subject to rent or service) of feo, feus, of Germanic origin; akin to Old High German fihu cattle — more at fee

First Known Use

Noun (1)

15th century, in the meaning defined above

Noun (2)

1614, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of feud was in the 15th century

Dictionary Entries Near feud

Cite this Entry

“Feud.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/feud. Accessed 28 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

feud

noun
ˈfyüd
: a long lasting quarrel
especially : a lasting conflict between families or clans usually having acts of violence and revenge
feud verb
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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