1. relating to or involving the killing of one’s brother or sister
2. involving conflict or warfare between members of the same group, organization, or nation
Usage: figurative

Examples

• The ancient myth tells of a fratricidal struggle between twin brothers.
• Cain’s fratricidal act against Abel is one of the Bible’s most famous stories.
• The civil war became increasingly fratricidal as former allies turned against each other.
• The company’s fratricidal competition between departments hurt overall productivity.
• Political analysts described the primary race as fratricidal infighting.
• The fratricidal conflict tore the revolutionary movement apart.
• Historians studied the fratricidal nature of the dynasty’s succession disputes.