conflicted

1 of 2

adjective

con·​flict·​ed kən-ˈflik-təd How to pronounce conflicted (audio)
Synonyms of conflicted
: experiencing or marked by ambivalence or a conflict especially of emotions
conflicted feelings
… these people are … conflicted in their values and beliefs.—Norman Ornstein

conflicted

2 of 2

past tense and past participle of conflict entry 2

Synonyms of conflicted

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Adjective

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Examples of conflicted in a Sentence

Adjective She was still conflicted about her ex-husband's remarriage. I'm conflicted about the prospect of our only child going away to college.
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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.
Adjective
There were respected former Metro homicide detectives Brent Becker and Dan Long, both gone gray, who had carried the burden of the unsolved murder, one riddled with conflicted characters on all sides. — John L. Smith, Rolling Stone, 2 Sep. 2026 What Assange wanted was not a system hardened against attacks, but one tied in knots, hopelessly conflicted and filled with suspicion, denunciations, and purges. — Finn Brunton, Harpers Magazine, 1 Sep. 2026 Esther wants to help Sophia reach more ears and to help her conflicted dad move more of his listeners to the middle, politically. — Pam Kragen, San Diego Union-Tribune, 30 Aug. 2026 The British-Argentine actor’s point has less to do with her conflicted con artist cheating death numerous times and besting her mobster in-laws, as well as the FBI. — Brian Davids, HollywoodReporter, 20 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for conflicted

Word History

Etymology

Adjective

from past participle of conflict entry 2

First Known Use

Adjective

1789, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of conflicted was in 1789

Rhymes for conflicted

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Browse Nearby Words

conflict diamond
conflicted
conflicting
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Cite this Entry

“Conflicted.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/conflicted. Accessed 5 Sep. 2026.

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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 home—People
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