conflicted

Conflicted is an adjective describing a person or situation characterized by internal or external conflict, often involving competing feelings, beliefs, or demands that create indecision between opposing options or loyalties.

The term is formed from the noun conflict with the adjectival suffix -ed and is used across everyday language and professional discourse.

In psychology and decision making, conflicted states relate to ambivalence and cognitive dissonance, describing cases where opposing motivations pull in different directions. This can produce hesitation, moral doubt, or avoidance, but it is not itself a clinical diagnosis.

In everyday use, conflicted often characterizes individuals facing tough choices, such as whether to accept a job offer or balance competing commitments. It can also describe policies, projects, or narratives with unresolved tensions.

See also: ambivalence, cognitive dissonance, internal conflict, moral dilemma.