conflicting

adjective

con·​flict·​ing kən-ˈflik-tiŋ 

ˈkän-ˌflik-

: being in conflict, collision, or opposition : incompatible

conflicting theories

conflictingly

kən-ˈflik-tiŋ-lē 

ˈkän-ˌflik-

adverb

Synonyms of conflicting

• inconsistent

Examples of conflicting in a Sentence

conflicting reports from the witnesses at the scene

Recent Examples on the Web

There are conflicting statistics about how many Christians have died in Nigeria, and how many have died as a result of their faith. —MSNBC Newsweek, 17 Nov. 2025

When the perfect tree ends up being on Alma’s family land, Charlie stays in town eating pastries at Ricki Lake’s patisserie and crashing a gingerbread house-making contest while the two navigate their attraction to each other and their seemingly conflicting goals. —Sarah Neilson, Them., 17 Nov. 2025

Police didn’t communicate effectively and gave him conflicting commands, the lawsuit says. —Charlotte Observer, 14 Nov. 2025

There were all those conflicting feelings, the empathy, the tiredness, and this conflict was so mesmerizing. —Georg Szalai, HollywoodReporter, 14 Nov. 2025

Word History

Etymology

from present participle of conflict entry 2

First Known Use

1592, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for conflicting

• afflicting
• constricting
• convicting
• depicting
• evicting
• inflicting
• predicting
• restricting
• contradicting