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.
The transaction could generate hundreds of millions of dollars for the Trump family, further raising concerns about the president’s conflicted relationship with crypto. Andrew Ross Sorkin, New York Times, 2 May 2025 The commercial pressures to pad may have played a part; so, too, might Twain’s own conflicted relationship with America’s unresolved promises. Lauren Michele Jackson, New Yorker, 28 Apr. 2025 The writers delivered a masterclass in how to handle the unforeseen death of a central character, then did a superb job navigating not only Dan’s heartbreak, but his conflicted feelings about moving on with Louise. Ryan Schwartz, TVLine, 24 Apr. 2025 Maggie Kuntz breathes both charisma and sensitivity into Ivy Watkins, making the conflicted teen feel raw and sympathetic rather than a melodramatic mean girl. EW.com, 15 Apr. 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 25 May. 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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