Conflictedness

Part of speech: noun

Definitions

1. The state of experiencing internal struggle or opposing emotions about a situation or decision
2. A condition characterized by the coexistence of contradictory thoughts or feelings within a person
3. The emotional turmoil arising from having competing interests or desires that create a sense of indecision or uncertainty

Etymology: "Conflictedness" is a plain formation: the adjective "conflicted", meaning torn between opposing feelings or desires, with the suffix "-ness" added to turn it into a noun for that state. "Conflicted" itself comes from "conflict", which traces back to Latin "confligere", meaning "to strike together" or "to clash", built from "com-" (together) and "fligere" (to strike). The adjective sense of being mentally divided is what gives the noun its meaning here. The suffix "-ness" is one of English's oldest and most productive, descending from Old English and attached to adjectives since the earliest records of the language. That is why it can be added to nearly any descriptive adjective, including newer ones, to name the quality or condition they describe. "Conflictedness" therefore names the quality of being inwardly divided, a state of mind rather than an external clash.

Synonyms: confusion, uncertainty, dilemma, turmoil, indecision

Antonyms: clarity, certainty, resolution