adjective
torn
Unable to choose between competing feelings or commitments.
She feels torn between caring for her father and moving away.
Etymology
Torn is the participle of tear. Competing loyalties or feelings figuratively pull a person apart in different directions, making a decision difficult.
More examples
- I'm torn between telling the truth and protecting my friend.
- He feels torn about accepting a promotion that means less family time.
- Both candidates share her values, so she remains torn.
Forms
torn
Similar words
- conflicted
- Emphasizes opposing feelings or beliefs, not necessarily a pending choice.
- undecided
- Means not having chosen, without necessarily feeling emotionally pulled apart.
- ambivalent
- Emphasizes mixed feelings toward something rather than competing commitments.