as in inconsistent
not being in agreement or harmony
the two plans are mutually exclusive; implementing one will automatically rule out the other
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Recent Examples of mutually exclusive
In the land of gardening trends, pretty and productive don’t have to be mutually exclusive, and grazing gardens are proof of just that.
—
Patricia Shannon, Southern Living, 23 Apr. 2026
The good news is that scale and originality are not mutually exclusive.
—Seth Yudof, Rolling Stone, 21 Apr. 2026
Being a steadfast sports fan and having a stylish home don't have to be mutually exclusive.
—Maddie Topliff, Better Homes & Gardens, 21 Apr. 2026
Leading YouTube requires several discrete and usually mutually exclusive skills.
—Belinda Luscombe, Time, 15 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for mutually exclusive
Patricia Shannon, Southern Living, 23 Apr. 2026
The good news is that scale and originality are not mutually exclusive.
—Seth Yudof, Rolling Stone, 21 Apr. 2026
Being a steadfast sports fan and having a stylish home don't have to be mutually exclusive.
—Maddie Topliff, Better Homes & Gardens, 21 Apr. 2026
Leading YouTube requires several discrete and usually mutually exclusive skills.
—Belinda Luscombe, Time, 15 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for mutually exclusive
Recent Examples of Synonyms for mutually exclusive
Adjective
-
The inconsistent role wreaked havoc with his shot.—
Jon Krawczynski,
New York Times,
17 May 2026
-
Approval processes often depend on manual back-and-forth, while visibility beyond tier one suppliers is inconsistent at best.—
Alex Saric,
Forbes.com,
15 May 2026
Adjective
-
Poor communication between teams pursuing conflicting goals, actions that contradict core objectives, failing oversight and any number of other wire-crossings can have serious consequences.—
Paul Fitzgerald,
Rolling Stone,
14 May 2026
-
Both the union and company have made conflicting statements since then, saying the other has refused to meet.—
Maya Wilkins,
Chicago Tribune,
14 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Mutually exclusive.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/mutually%20exclusive. Accessed 21 May. 2026.
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