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
Progress and preservation are not mutually exclusive.
—
Sun Sentinel Editorial Board, Sun Sentinel, 26 Feb. 2026
In the best kitchens, style and function are not mutually exclusive, but seamlessly intertwined.
—Maria Sabella, Better Homes & Gardens, 21 Feb. 2026
Her tenure in Congress has proven bold ideas and common ground aren't mutually exclusive.
—Dana Afana, Freep.com, 20 Feb. 2026
What’s happening with ICE, what’s happening in Minnesota, across the country, in the Middle East — things are not mutually exclusive.
—Clayton Davis, Variety, 20 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for mutually exclusive
Sun Sentinel Editorial Board, Sun Sentinel, 26 Feb. 2026
In the best kitchens, style and function are not mutually exclusive, but seamlessly intertwined.
—Maria Sabella, Better Homes & Gardens, 21 Feb. 2026
Her tenure in Congress has proven bold ideas and common ground aren't mutually exclusive.
—Dana Afana, Freep.com, 20 Feb. 2026
What’s happening with ICE, what’s happening in Minnesota, across the country, in the Middle East — things are not mutually exclusive.
—Clayton Davis, Variety, 20 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for mutually exclusive
Recent Examples of Synonyms for mutually exclusive
Adjective
-
For the first half on Friday night, Angel City Football Club was turning in one of those inconsistent performances that Coach Alex Straus expected would happen this season with a young team.—
Damian Calhoun,
Daily News,
28 Mar. 2026
-
As is often the case for 23-year-olds pushed into large roles, Podziemski has been inconsistent.—
Joseph Dycus,
Mercury News,
28 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
Following the events of A Palace Near the Wind, Liu Lufeng and her siblings flee the Palace for the dangerous waters, which contain rebels, allies, and her sister Sangshu—though Sangshu’s conflicting loyalties may clash with Lufeng’s plan to keep them all safe.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
1 Apr. 2026
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The legal conversation is settled, and far more explicit than other consequential decisions in which the court must weigh potentially conflicting precedents and nebulous congressional intent.—
New York Daily News Editorial Board,
New York Daily News,
1 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Mutually exclusive.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/mutually%20exclusive. Accessed 3 Apr. 2026.
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