conflicting interests

USAGE SUMMARY

"conflicting interests" is correct and usable in written English.
You would use this phrase to refer to when different people or groups have goals or interests that are opposed to one another. For example, "The federal government and the lumber industry have conflicting interests in the debate over logging in national forests."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

59 human-written examples

There are conflicting interests.

The New Yorker

Does the Managing Agent Have Conflicting Interests?

The New York Times

There are too many conflicting interests at stake.

The Guardian

He describes the conflicting interests of surgeons and chemotherapists.

The New York Times - Books

For many of these interlocutors have sharply conflicting interests.

The Economist

Reconciling those conflicting interests seems beyond Mr Advani.

The Economist

Later this month European commission officials adjudicate between the conflicting interests of food production and conservation.

The Guardian - Opinion

There would, to put it mildly, be conflicting interests around the table.

The Guardian - Opinion

Any work of art worth looking at provokes conflicting interests within the individual viewer.

The New York Times - Arts

The conflicting interests between the Brics members may be too great to reach agreement for implementation.

The Guardian

That gap can lead to conflicting interests and obtrusive personalization.

TechCrunch

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When addressing "conflicting interests", clearly identify all parties involved and their respective interests to ensure transparency and facilitate resolution.

Common error

Avoid using "conflicting interests" without specifying whose interests are in conflict. Providing context helps avoid ambiguity and strengthens your argument.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "conflicting interests" functions as a noun phrase, typically serving as the subject or object of a sentence. It denotes a situation where different parties or entities have opposing goals or aims. As Ludwig shows, it's used to describe disagreements in various contexts.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

40%

Science

35%

Formal & Business

15%

Less common in

Wiki

5%

Encyclopedias

3%

Reference

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "conflicting interests" is a common and grammatically sound noun phrase used to describe situations where different parties have opposing goals. As Ludwig AI confirms, it is correct and usable in written English. It appears frequently in various contexts, including news, science, and formal business, indicating its versatility. To ensure clarity, it's best practice to specify whose interests are in conflict. Alternatives like "diverging interests" or "competing interests" can be used to add nuance. When exploring this phrase, Ludwig provides a wide variety of examples showing how this phrase can be applied in diverse situations.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

diverging interests

This alternative highlights the way interests can move apart from each other.

competing interests

Focuses on the competitive aspect of the interests involved.

rival interests

Emphasizes the adversarial nature of the differing interests.

opposing interests

Highlights the direct opposition between the interests.

clashing interests

Implies a forceful disagreement or collision between interests.

incompatible interests

Stresses the impossibility of the interests coexisting harmoniously.

antagonistic interests

Focuses on the hostility and active opposition between interests.

mixed motives

Shifts focus to the motivations behind the actions, which are not aligned.

contending priorities

Emphasizes that the problem stems from different rankings of importance.

discordant goals

Highlights the lack of harmony between the objectives pursued.

FAQs

How can I use "conflicting interests" in a sentence?

You can use "conflicting interests" to describe situations where different parties have goals that oppose each other. For example, "The board members had "diverging interests" regarding the company's future direction."

What's a more formal synonym for "conflicting interests"?

In formal contexts, you can use phrases like "competing interests" or "diverging interests" to maintain a professional tone.

How do you identify "conflicting interests" in a professional setting?

Look for situations where individuals or departments have competing goals or where personal gain could influence decision-making. Transparency and disclosure are essential for managing such "rival interests".

What is the difference between "conflicting interests" and "competing priorities"?

"Conflicting interests" implies that the fundamental goals of the parties involved are at odds, while "competing priorities" suggests that the goals themselves may not be in opposition, but there are limitations on resources and time. See also "contending priorities".