as in inconsistent
not being in agreement or harmony
the two plans are mutually exclusive; implementing one will automatically rule out the other
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Recent Examples of mutually exclusive
Both individual rights and public safety are essential to our functioning democracy and are not mutually exclusive.
—
Teresa Liu, Daily News, 4 May 2026
Artifice and authenticity, Parton reminds us in her own down-home, high-femme way, are not mutually exclusive.
—New York Times, 28 Apr. 2026
In the land of gardening trends, pretty and productive don’t have to be mutually exclusive, and grazing gardens are proof of just that.
—Patricia Shannon, Southern Living, 23 Apr. 2026
Being a steadfast sports fan and having a stylish home don't have to be mutually exclusive.
—Maddie Topliff, Better Homes & Gardens, 21 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for mutually exclusive
Teresa Liu, Daily News, 4 May 2026
Artifice and authenticity, Parton reminds us in her own down-home, high-femme way, are not mutually exclusive.
—New York Times, 28 Apr. 2026
In the land of gardening trends, pretty and productive don’t have to be mutually exclusive, and grazing gardens are proof of just that.
—Patricia Shannon, Southern Living, 23 Apr. 2026
Being a steadfast sports fan and having a stylish home don't have to be mutually exclusive.
—Maddie Topliff, Better Homes & Gardens, 21 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for mutually exclusive
Recent Examples of Synonyms for mutually exclusive
Adjective
-
Your first warning is when local news, embassy alerts, and travel communications become inconsistent or censored, situational awareness is compromised.—
Christopher Elliott,
Forbes.com,
30 May 2026
-
AltaMed doctors and medical professionals traded stethoscopes for fliers advertising voting sites and canvassed neighborhoods in Santa Ana ahead of the June 2 primary on Tuesday to connect with residents who had been diagnosed as low-propensity or inconsistent voters.—
Kaitlyn Schallhorn,
Oc Register,
29 May 2026
Adjective
-
Our world today is filled with conflicting information.—
Mark Travers,
Forbes.com,
27 May 2026
-
The result of this approach was a state of paralysis—a leadership trajectory stalled by a deluge of conflicting opinions from sources with wildly different levels of credibility.—
Brendan Keegan,
Rolling Stone,
27 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Mutually exclusive.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/mutually%20exclusive. Accessed 3 Jun. 2026.
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