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I've been trying to think of an adjective that expresses having two (or perhaps more) conflicting emotions or opinions simultaneously. Can anyone think of one?

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8 Answers

up vote 18 down vote accepted

Ambivalent (adj.)

ambivalence and ambivalency noun, originally psychol the concurrent adherence to two opposite or conflicting views, feelings, etc about someone or something. ambivalent adj. ambivalently adverb. ETYMOLOGY: 1912: from German Ambivalenz, from ambi-, modelled on 'equivalence'; see equivalent.

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No worries, thank Kryten from Red Dwarf for that one! – Scott Brown Nov 24 '11 at 14:20
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Ah, series 7. That explains it. I zoned out a little when watching the last two series, since it wasn't their best work. – Polynomial Nov 24 '11 at 14:23
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No ambivalence there then ;) – Polynomial Nov 24 '11 at 14:28
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I think of ambivalent as applying to less-significant options -- I'm ambivalent about whether to get pizza or tacos for lunch, but I'm torn or conflicted about whether to take this job or that one. – Monica Cellio Nov 24 '11 at 17:45
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@MonicaCellio: you'd be uncertain whether to pick pizza or tacos. People these days are misusing "ambivalent" to mean "uncertain". See etymonline's etymology for ambivalence. – outis Nov 24 '11 at 23:45
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up vote 11 down vote

'Torn' is often used eg. I was torn between loving her, and wanting to kill her.

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That's a possibility, but I'm really looking for an adjective rather than a verb. – Polynomial Nov 24 '11 at 14:11
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torn is an adjective... – Yuttadhammo Nov 24 '11 at 16:02
up vote 8 down vote

You could use "conflicted" possibly? Or "vie/vying," which is a verb even though you asked for an adjective.

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up vote 3 down vote

To [be in]/[have]/[get] mixed feelings about something:

to have different conflicting feelings.

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Mixed feelings fits an "I'm not sure about this" situation, rather than having two opposing emotions or opinions. I'm also convinced that it's a single word I'm looking for... I know I've heard it somewhere. – Polynomial Nov 24 '11 at 14:16
up vote 1 down vote

If I feel this way, I describe myself as "conflicted" or "confused".

I would not use "ambivalent" for two conflicting emotions; I describe myself as "ambivalent" if I am caught between multiple choices in a decision and don't feel strongly about any of them.

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up vote 1 down vote

I suggest dichotomous:

involving or proceeding from something with seemingly contradictory qualities

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up vote 0 down vote

Turmoil fits as a noun. Unfortunately, the adjective tumultuous doesn't work as well.

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To be in turmoil does not not actually require that one is ambivalent or conflicted. – Eliah Kagan Nov 25 '11 at 0:08
up vote -1 down vote

The proper word is ambipathy, a mixture of sympathy and antipathy, of attraction and repulsion.

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This describes a particular kind of conflict, so doesn't fit the OP's bill. Also, it is a coined word that has little or no currency, possibly invented here. And, your definition seems to have been taken from Urban Dictionary without attribution. ... Welcome to EL&U. :-) – MετάEd Jan 29 at 0:16

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