English Reference
Adjective

conflicted

adj.
B2 Upper Intermediate US /kənˈfɫɪktɪd/ UK /kənflˈɪktɪd/ con·flict·ed

adj.feeling confused because you have two different or opposite feelings about something at the same time.

adj.experiencing a state of mental or emotional struggle resulting from incompatible or opposing impulses, desires, or beliefs. Often used predicatively after linking verbs like 'feel' or 'seem'.


SIMPLE

I feel conflicted about moving to a new city.

CONTEXTUAL

She was deeply conflicted about accepting the promotion because it meant spending much less time with her family.

COMPLEX

The protagonist remains conflicted throughout the novel, torn between a sense of duty to his country and a growing moral objection to the war.

Usage

Typically follows a linking verb such as 'feel', 'be', or 'remain'.

Pitfall
I am conflict about the choiceI am conflicted about the choice

Learners often use the noun 'conflict' instead of the participial adjective 'conflicted' to describe their feelings.

And now 30 years on, McDonald appeared conflicted over breaking that street code.

BBC News· 19 Aug 2026

Thus, knowledge about limiting fertility conflicted with the interests of European states and plantation societies that valued population growth.

JSTOR Daily· 29 Jul 2026
This entry
Level B2 · Upper Intermediate
Frequency Frequent
Updated