sengit

Sengit is an adjective used in Indonesian and Malay to describe situations, events, or behavior that are intense, heated, or highly competitive. It conveys a sense of high stakes, sharp divergence, or difficult conditions, and is commonly applied to debates, negotiations, sports, and political contexts.

Origin and usage context: The term is native to Malay and Indonesian vocabularies and appears across formal and informal registers. It frequently collocates with nouns such as pertandingan, pertarungan, negosiasi, and pemilihan to denote a tightly contested or bloodless- but intense- scenario. In media and journalism, sengit is a standard descriptor for coverage of competitive events or contentious discussions.

Common usages: Examples include "pertandingan sengit" (a close, competitive match), "pertarungan sengit" (a fierce struggle), "negosiasi sengit" (tense negotiations), and "pemilihan sengit" (a tight election). It can also describe atmospheres, as in "situasi sengit di pasar" (a tense market environment). The adverbial form "sengitnya" emphasizes degree, as in "persaingan sengitnya mempengaruhi kebijakan."

Nuance and style: Sengit is a neutral descriptor that signals intensity without moral judgment. It is prevalent in news headlines and social commentary to quickly convey urgency or competitiveness, while remaining descriptive rather than evaluative.

See also: tense, close contest, competitive dynamics.

References: Common usage documented in Indonesian and Malay dictionaries and language corpora, including Kamus Besar Bahasa Indonesia and Kamus Dewan.