mutually exclusive

adjective

: being related such that each excludes or precludes the other

mutually exclusive events

also : incompatible

their outlooks were not mutually exclusive

Synonyms

• clashing
• conflicting
• disagreeing
• discordant
• discrepant
• incompatible
• incongruous
• inconsistent
• inconsonant
• inharmonious
• repugnant

Examples of mutually exclusive in a Sentence

the two plans are mutually exclusive; implementing one will automatically rule out the other

Recent Examples on the Web

Green Is The New Gold Sustainability and innovation are not mutually exclusive. —Oluwaseun Dania, Forbes.com, 26 Mar. 2025

The two approaches are not mutually exclusive—companies use third-party software developers to tailor a system to its precise requirements. —Atal Bansal, Forbes, 25 Mar. 2025

In hindsight, the two pursuits were not mutually exclusive. —Dennis Lin, The Athletic, 25 Mar. 2025

While that deal was supposed to be mutually exclusive across the US and the UK for five years following commercial launch — which hasn’t yet happened — that partnership has now let in Virgin Atlantic, which is half owned by Delta anyway. —Nicole Kobie, Forbes, 17 Mar. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1656, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for mutually exclusive

• abusive
• allusive
• collusive
• conclusive
• conducive
• delusive
• diffusive
• elusive
• extrusive
• illusive
• inclusive
• intrusive