: 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
Then-Vice President Hubert Humphrey was nominated at a convention in Chicago riven by anti-war protests.
—Susan Page, USA TODAY, 22 July 2024
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
See all Example Sentences for riven 
Susan Page, USA TODAY, 22 July 2024
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
See all Example Sentences for riven
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.
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Cite this Entry
“Riven.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/riven. Accessed 18 Aug. 2024.
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