- present participle of conflict.
conflicting
Americanadjective
adjective
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of conflicting
Explanation
Feeling at odds? In total disagreement? Then you're probably dealing with something conflicting. The adjective conflicting is rooted in the word conflict for a reason: When things are conflicting they're in conflict, disagreeing or contradicting each other. Conflicting reports or theories go against each other. Sometimes people get conflicting emotions when they're torn over a really hard decision. And conflicting personalities? They're completely incompatible.
Vocabulary lists containing conflicting
Dear Martin
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Thomas Jefferson's First Inaugural Address (1801)
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
A new study has now found that the answer is more nuanced than researchers once believed, helping resolve years of conflicting results.
From Science Daily • Jul. 2, 2026
It was unclear if ongoing negotiations between the U.S. and Iran would be held this week as scheduled, with conflicting reports from each side as to their status.
From MarketWatch • Jun. 28, 2026
“These conflicting narratives suggest that the market is in the process of picking winners and losers in this space, and that is a process that will take time,” he added.
From Barron's • Jun. 26, 2026
She tells the BBC she has conflicting feelings about the ban coming to the UK.
From BBC • Jun. 16, 2026
I answered that it was strained, that it attributed nuances to the various conflicting commentaries that were not there, and that, therefore, it really was not a reconciliation at all.
From "The Chosen" by Chaim Potok
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Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.