conflicted

adjective

con·​flict·​ed kən-ˈflik-təd How to pronounce conflicted (audio)
: experiencing or marked by ambivalence or a conflict especially of emotions
this unhappy and conflicted modern womanJohn Updike
conflicted feelings

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 on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Trump, who has sometimes seemed conflicted about the anti-vax sentiment in his coalition that prevents him from claiming more credit for Operation Warp Speed, has thoroughly capitulated to the political reality that Kennedy is a useful ally. Dhruv Khullar, New Yorker, 6 Sep. 2025 There's a lot of conflicted emotions. Dana Taylor, USA Today, 31 Aug. 2025 The 90-minute sci-fi anthology will comprise six 15-minute stories adapted from novels by independent authors, examining the conflicted emotions surrounding technological advancement. Naman Ramachandran, Variety, 29 Aug. 2025 New Zealander James Bertram reveals his conflicted feelings in the realization that his comfortable stay in Japan was a distraction from the horrors experienced on the Chinese front lines. H.m.a. Leow, JSTOR Daily, 22 Aug. 2025 See All Example Sentences for conflicted

Word History

Etymology

from past participle of conflict entry 2

First Known Use

1789, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of conflicted was in 1789

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Conflicted.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/conflicted. Accessed 10 Sep. 2025.

Medical Definition

conflicted

adjective
con·​flict·​ed kən-ˈflik-təd How to pronounce conflicted (audio)
: having or experiencing emotional conflict
working women were much more conflicted about working than full-time mothers were about staying homePeople

More from Merriam-Webster on conflicted

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