Conflicting ways are a thing to avoid (5)
I believe the answer is:
snare
'a thing to avoid' is the definition.
I can't judge whether this definition defines the answer.
'conflicting ways are' is the wordplay.
'conflicting ways' becomes 'sn' (I can't explain this - if you can you should believe this answer much more).
'sn'+'are'='SNARE'
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for snare that I've seen before include "Trap or entangle" , "Loop of wire as trap" , "Wire on drum; trap" , "part of a musician's kit" , "Lure or trap" .)