conflicted

adjective con·flict·ed \ kən-ˈflik-təd \

Definition of conflicted

:experiencing or marked by ambivalence or a conflict especially of emotions

this unhappy and conflicted modern woman
—John Updike

conflicted feelings

See conflicted defined for English-language learners

Examples of conflicted in a Sentence

She was still conflicted about her ex-husband's remarriage.
I'm conflicted about the prospect of our only child going away to college.

Recent Examples of conflicted from the Web

Black people have a very conflicted relationship with law enforcement, be it local or federal policing.

— terrell jermaine starr, The Root, "Should Black Folks Trust the FBI’s Russia Investigation, Given Its History of Targeting Our Communities?," 21 Aug. 2017
At the June 21 meeting, Friedgen made an eloquent plea to a conflicted Helix board, reassuring them that their nearly $100,000 annual contribution to the venue, 10 percent of the garden’s annual budget, was important to continue.

— karen pearlman, sandiegouniontribune.com, "It's not all water under the bridge for former Helix GM," 17 July 2017
But many feel conflicted about the decision to cast Scott as Jasmine.

— suzannah weiss, Teen Vogue, "Aladdin Live-Action Movie Casting Announced," 16 July 2017
Thoreau might not have been any more conflicted than the next guy – only better at getting the shifting shades of his inner life on paper.

— danny heitman, The Christian Science Monitor, "'Thoreau: A Life' doesn't shy away from the man's myriad contradictions," 14 July 2017
The tension between them brings back their conflicted past.

— lloyd sachs, chicagotribune.com, "Don Lee’s story of an alt-country musician yields remarkable depth of emotion," 3 July 2017
Ivan Vega is particularly stellar as the conflicted cop.

— Chicago Reader, "It Came From the Neo-Futurarium XII, In the Soundless Awe, and six more new stage shows," 28 June 2017
But Day-Lewis shines as a conflicted fighter with lingering doubts about his violent profession.

— patrick cooley, cleveland.com, "The 9 best performances of Daniel Day-Lewis," 21 June 2017
Chloe is an intelligent, moody, deeply conflicted person.

— kyle orland, sam machkovech, Ars Technica, "The top ten games to watch for after E3 2017," 19 June 2017

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'conflicted.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

First Known Use of conflicted

1914

conflicted Synonyms

Synonyms

ambivalent, equivocal

Antonyms

unambivalent

Related Words

doubtful, faltering, irresolute, questioning, uncertain, undecided, unsure, vacillating, wobbly (also wabbly); afraid, disinclined, dubious, hesitant, indisposed, loath (also loth or loathe), reluctant

Near Antonyms

certain, decided, resolute, sure, unquestioning

CONFLICTED Defined for English Language Learners

conflicted

adjective

Definition of conflicted for English Language Learners

: having or showing feelings that disagree with one another

Medical Dictionary

conflicted

adjective con·flict·ed \ kən-ˈflik-təd \

medical Definition of conflicted

:having or experiencing emotional conflict

working women were much more conflicted about working than full-time mothers were about staying home
—People

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Examples of conflicted in a Sentence

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conflicted Synonyms

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CONFLICTED Defined for English Language Learners

conflicted

Definition of conflicted for English Language Learners

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conflicted

medical Definition of conflicted

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