: split apart
riven wood [=wood split apart along the grain]
: divided into pieces or factions
a riven nation
… beautifully nuanced portraits of a riven people, separated by more than an ocean.—
Mylène Dressler
Mylène DresslerExamples of riven in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Set along the Indonesia-Malaysia border, Borderless Fog tells the story of a female detective from the big city sent to investigate gruesome serial murders in a remote province in Borneo that is riven with suspicion, superstition and shadowy forces.
—Abid Rahman, The Hollywood Reporter, 3 Sep. 2019
The amiable retiree was unaware that the East County Citizens’ Alliance core mission is repairing a politically riven community.
—Alfredo Sosa, The Christian Science Monitor, 23 May 2024
Their journey through a land riven by conflict in search of Arthur’s successor will reveal the country’s bloody origins.
—Lorraine Berry, Los Angeles Times, 15 May 2024
And when some of the dominant brokers are Koreans selling mostly to fellow Koreans — on courses designed to cater to all stripes of Angelenos — the controversy is riven with race and class politics.
—Matt Hamilton, Los Angeles Times, 16 Mar. 2024
His reckless prewar policy of dividing Israelis made the country vulnerable, tempting Iran’s allies to strike at a riven society.
—Aluf Benn, Foreign Affairs, 7 Feb. 2024
Thousands converged on the National Mall on Saturday for the 60th anniversary of Rev. Martin Luther King Jr.’s March on Washington, saying a country that remains riven by racial inequality has yet to fulfill his dream.
—Aaron Morrison, Chicago Tribune, 26 Aug. 2023
This riven Martian arctic was a mystery to scientists for over forty years.
—Joseph Calamia, Discover Magazine, 19 Nov. 2019
Its leaves were glossy and dark green, its bark riven like a mountain range seen from above.
—Zoë Schlanger, The Atlantic, 23 Oct. 2023
Abid Rahman, The Hollywood Reporter, 3 Sep. 2019
The amiable retiree was unaware that the East County Citizens’ Alliance core mission is repairing a politically riven community.
—Alfredo Sosa, The Christian Science Monitor, 23 May 2024
Their journey through a land riven by conflict in search of Arthur’s successor will reveal the country’s bloody origins.
—Lorraine Berry, Los Angeles Times, 15 May 2024
And when some of the dominant brokers are Koreans selling mostly to fellow Koreans — on courses designed to cater to all stripes of Angelenos — the controversy is riven with race and class politics.
—Matt Hamilton, Los Angeles Times, 16 Mar. 2024
His reckless prewar policy of dividing Israelis made the country vulnerable, tempting Iran’s allies to strike at a riven society.
—Aluf Benn, Foreign Affairs, 7 Feb. 2024
Thousands converged on the National Mall on Saturday for the 60th anniversary of Rev. Martin Luther King Jr.’s March on Washington, saying a country that remains riven by racial inequality has yet to fulfill his dream.
—Aaron Morrison, Chicago Tribune, 26 Aug. 2023
This riven Martian arctic was a mystery to scientists for over forty years.
—Joseph Calamia, Discover Magazine, 19 Nov. 2019
Its leaves were glossy and dark green, its bark riven like a mountain range seen from above.
—Zoë Schlanger, The Atlantic, 23 Oct. 2023
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'riven.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Dictionary Entries Near riven
Cite this Entry
“Riven.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/riven. Accessed 15 Jul. 2024.
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