conflicted

adjective

con·​flict·​ed kən-ˈflik-təd How to pronounce conflicted (audio)
: experiencing or marked by ambivalence or a conflict especially of emotions
this unhappy and conflicted modern womanJohn Updike
conflicted feelings

Examples of conflicted in a Sentence

She was still conflicted about her ex-husband's remarriage. I'm conflicted about the prospect of our only child going away to college.
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
An exclusive preview clip of Thursday's new episode, above, shows that no one's felt the heat more than Trisha Mann-Grant's delectable villain, Leslie (whose real name is Dana, but also operates under the aliases Sherry and Anna), and her conflicted daughter Eva (Ambyr Michelle). Ryan Coleman, EW.com, 30 Apr. 2025 Her pencil-thin villain is only redeemed by Geraldine Viswanathan’s performance as her conflicted assistant, whose dilemma is at the core of a movie about the double-sided power that comes with a sense of purpose. David Ehrlich, IndieWire, 29 Apr. 2025 While the first act is an enjoyable and educational slice of life about these clearly conflicted soldiers — dedicated to the U.S. war effort while their families sit in internment camps — the play’s second half is a magnificent piece of theatrical storytelling. Rob Hubbard, Twin Cities, 31 Mar. 2025 Fiennes has been nominated for an Emmy, seven Golden Globes, and three Academy Awards, including for his turn as a conflicted cardinal in the papal thriller Conclave (2024). Randall Colburn, EW.com, 17 Apr. 2025 See All Example Sentences for conflicted

Word History

Etymology

from past participle of conflict entry 2

First Known Use

1789, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of conflicted was in 1789

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Conflicted.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/conflicted. Accessed 11 May. 2025.

Medical Definition

conflicted

adjective
con·​flict·​ed kən-ˈflik-təd How to pronounce conflicted (audio)
: having or experiencing emotional conflict
working women were much more conflicted about working than full-time mothers were about staying homePeople

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