conflicted

1 of 2

adjective

con·​flict·​ed kən-ˈflik-təd 

: 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

Adjective

• unsure
• ambivalent
• afraid
• hesitant
• uncertain

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.

Recent Examples on the Web

Adjective

Such conflicted messaging is undermining the alliance’s ability to deter Russia. — Julianne Smith, Foreign Affairs, 7 Oct. 2026

An Oscar nominee for Anora, Borisov delivers another knockout performance as Sutskever, a Russian immigrant, computer science prodigy, and, eventually, the morally conflicted cofounder of OpenAI. — Chris Murphy, Vanity Fair, 6 Oct. 2026

Meanwhile, conflicted assassin Tope takes another typical job from witchdoctor Baba, only for everything to go sideways and send her on the run—right in the path of Itumeleng, who also recognizes her from his visions. — Literary Hub, 1 Oct. 2026

That’s too rich for my blood in today’s economy, and my feelings about Meta are… conflicted. — Sean Hollister, The Verge, 1 Oct. 2026

Word History

Etymology

Adjective

from past participle of conflict entry 2

First Known Use

Adjective

1789, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for conflicted

• addicted
• afflicted
• constricted
• convicted
• depicted
• evicted
• inflicted
• predicted
• restricted
• contradicted
• interdicted
• unrestricted

Medical Definition

conflicted

adjective

con·​flict·​ed kən-ˈflik-təd 

: having or experiencing emotional conflict

working women were much more conflicted about working than full-time mothers were about staying home

—People