conflict
Describes two or more things that are incompatible, contradictory, or in opposition to one another. It is used to indicate that ideas, schedules, or facts cannot coexist or be true at the same time.
Examples
3 of 5We couldn't attend the party because we had conflicting schedules that evening.
We were unable to go to the party because our planned timings overlapped or disagreed.
The court struggled to reach a verdict due to the conflicting testimonies of the key witnesses.
The legal system found it hard to decide because the witness statements disagreed with each other.
I'm getting conflicting signals from him; I can't tell if he's happy or upset.
I am receiving opposite messages from him, making it hard to understand his mood.
Antonyms
Word Family
Memory Tip
Think of the root 'flict' as 'strike' (like flicking a finger). 'Conflicting' is when two things strike together or hit each other head-on.
Quick Quiz
The investigation was delayed because the detectives received _______ reports from the neighbors.
Correct!
The correct answer is: a
Examples
We couldn't attend the party because we had conflicting schedules that evening.
everydayWe were unable to go to the party because our planned timings overlapped or disagreed.
The court struggled to reach a verdict due to the conflicting testimonies of the key witnesses.
formalThe legal system found it hard to decide because the witness statements disagreed with each other.
I'm getting conflicting signals from him; I can't tell if he's happy or upset.
informalI am receiving opposite messages from him, making it hard to understand his mood.
The study's results were conflicting, suggesting that more variables needed to be controlled.
academicThe research findings opposed each other, which meant more factors should be checked.
The manager had to balance the conflicting demands of the clients and the internal team.
businessThe supervisor had to manage the opposing needs of the customers and the staff.
Antonyms
Word Family
Common Collocations
Common Phrases
conflicting information
data that is not in agreement
conflicting priorities
multiple tasks that all seem urgent but cannot all be done at once
a conflict of interest
a situation where someone's private interests interfere with their official duties
Often Confused With
'Conflicted' describes a person's internal feeling of being unsure or torn, whereas 'conflicting' describes external things that oppose each other.
Usage Notes
Use 'conflicting' when you are describing things like data, schedules, or stories that do not match. It usually functions as an attributive adjective before a noun.
Common Mistakes
Learners often say 'I am conflict' when they mean 'I am conflicted' (internal feeling) or 'I am in a conflict' (situation).
Memory Tip
Think of the root 'flict' as 'strike' (like flicking a finger). 'Conflicting' is when two things strike together or hit each other head-on.
Word Origin
Derived from the Latin 'conflictus', the past participle of 'confligere', meaning 'to strike together'.
Grammar Patterns
Cultural Context
In academic and professional settings, addressing conflicting data or interests is considered a vital part of ethics and critical thinking.
Quick Quiz
The investigation was delayed because the detectives received _______ reports from the neighbors.
Correct!
The correct answer is: a
Related Grammar Rules
Related Vocabulary
Related Words
to
A1Used to indicate the place, person, or thing that someone or something moves toward. It can also mark the recipient of an action or the limit of a range.
and
A1A primary conjunction used to connect words, phrases, or clauses that are grammatically equal. It indicates addition, a sequence of events, or a relationship between two things.
a
A1A word used before a singular noun that is not specific or is being mentioned for the first time. It is used only before words that begin with a consonant sound to indicate one of something.
that
A1This word is a demonstrative pronoun used to indicate a specific person, object, or idea that is further away in space or time from the speaker. It is also used to refer back to something that has already been mentioned or to introduce a clause that identifies something.
I
A1The pronoun 'I' is used by a speaker or writer to refer to themselves as the subject of a verb. It is the first-person singular subject pronoun in English and is always capitalized regardless of its position in a sentence.
for
A1Used to show who is intended to have or use something, or to explain the purpose or reason for an action. It is also frequently used to indicate a specific duration of time.
not
A1A function word used to express negation or denial. It is primarily used to make a sentence or phrase negative, often following an auxiliary verb or the verb 'to be'.
with
A1A preposition used to indicate that people or things are together, in the same place, or performing an action together. It can also describe the instrument used to perform an action or a characteristic that someone or something has.
he
A1A pronoun used to refer to a male person or animal that has already been mentioned or is easily identified. It functions as the subject of a sentence.
you
A1Used to refer to the person or people that the speaker is addressing. It is the second-person pronoun used for both singular and plural subjects and objects.
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