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
-
Studies examining how alcohol affects people’s eating habits have produced inconsistent results, University of Sydney researchers reported in Obesity Reviews.—
Teresa Mull,
FOXNews.com,
6 June 2026
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As Manaea walked off the mound Tuesday night, Mendoza clapped his hands from the bottom step of the Mets’ dugout in Seattle with exuberance inconsistent with the Mets’ early June standing.—
Will Sammon,
New York Times,
5 June 2026
Adjective
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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
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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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