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
Enthusiasm for Harris and skepticism about her viability in 2028 aren’t mutually exclusive, said the former Harris fundraiser.
—
Justine McDaniel, Los Angeles Times, 10 May 2026
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
See All Example Sentences for mutually exclusive
Justine McDaniel, Los Angeles Times, 10 May 2026
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
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
-
Brendan Banfield and the 26-year-old au pair, Juliana Peres Magalhães, both took the stand during the double-murder trial and offered conflicting accounts about the killings.—
Nicki Brown,
CNN Money,
5 June 2026
-
Mom isn’t a fan of conflicting narratives.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
3 June 2026
Cite this Entry
“Mutually exclusive.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/mutually%20exclusive. Accessed 7 Jun. 2026.
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