Sundering

Sundering refers to the act of breaking something apart, tearing it into pieces, or dividing it forcefully. It implies a separation, a disruption of unity, and often suggests a violent or forceful process. This can be applied to physical objects, abstract concepts, or relationships. The result of sundering is fragmentation, often leaving behind two or more distinct entities that were once connected. It speaks to a process of division, detachment, or alienation, emphasizing a forceful disruption of a whole.

Sundering meaning with examples

• The earthquake’s powerful force was a literal sundering of the earth, causing massive cracks and fissures across the landscape. Buildings crumbled and the very ground was rent apart. People were left in dismay and it highlighted the uncontrollable power of nature, where the very foundations of the community had been dramatically torn apart by the forces of the earth. Entire communities were disconnected.
• The political conflict led to the sundering of the once-unified nation. Civil war broke out, and the resulting tensions severed long-standing political and social ties. The division created fractured communities, with violence and hatred emerging. The bonds of a shared identity and cultural heritage were broken as new political systems emerged from the devastation. The once unified nation had been sundered by ideological conflict.
• The lawyer's cross-examination aimed at the sundering of the witness's testimony. He wanted to reveal inconsistencies and contradictions in the story, tearing apart the witness's credibility. The questioning was designed to expose any weaknesses. The jury, with a careful eye, watched the breakdown of the evidence. The opposing side then had the job of rebuilding the witness's integrity.
• After years of shared experiences and emotional investment, the announcement of their separation was a heartbreaking sundering of the couple’s relationship. Their lives, once interwoven, began the process of unwinding and the individuals began the process of re-adjusting their lives independently. The emotional distress brought by this sundering deeply affected everyone involved. Each individual had to come to terms with the future.