clash

1 of 2

verb

ˈklash 

clashed; clashing; clashes

intransitive verb

1

: to make a clash

cymbals clashed

2

: to come into conflict

Where ignorant armies clash by night.

—Matthew Arnold

also : to be incompatible

the colors clashed

transitive verb

: to cause to clash

clasher noun

clash

2 of 2

noun

1

: a noisy usually metallic sound of collision

2

a

: a hostile encounter : skirmish

b

: a sharp conflict

a clash of opinions

Synonyms of clash

Verb

• conflict
• collide

Noun

• skirmish
• battle
• fight
• struggle
• tussle

Examples of clash in a Sentence

Verb

Police and protesters clashed yesterday.

The sofa and the chair clash.

She ended the song by clashing the cymbals.

Noun

Hundreds were killed in ethnic clashes in the region last month.

a clash between rival gangs that resulted in some serious injuries

Recent Examples on the Web

Verb

Eftekhari worries that the mood at Iran’s first match, where fans and protesters clashed, affected the players. — Gabriela Aoun Angueira, Los Angeles Times, 21 June 2026

Is there ever a culture clash between you and the rest of the team, who are American? — Elsa Keslassy, Variety, 20 June 2026

Noun

Panama coach Thomas Christiansen lamented a new World Cup rule that has left his team mathematically eliminated before their final Group L game, with today's clash against England offering only a chance to claw back some pride. — Nbc News, NBC news, 28 June 2026

If the favorites move on, Spain and Portugal would provide one of the more entertaining clashes in the entire tournament. — Nick Harris, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 28 June 2026

Word History

Etymology

Verb

imitative

First Known Use

Verb

circa 1518, in the meaning defined at intransitive sense 1

Noun

circa 1522, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing clash

• battle/clash of wills
• clash of personalities

Rhymes for clash

• ash
• bash
• brash
• cache
• cash
• crash
• dash
• flash
• gash
• hash
• lash
• mash

Kids Definition

clash

1 of 2 verb

ˈklash 

1

: to make a clash

clashing cymbals

2

a

: to come into conflict

pickets clashed with the police

b

: to not match well

our ideas clashed

some colors clash

clasher noun

clash

2 of 2 noun

1

: a loud sharp sound usually of metal striking metal

the clash of swords

2

: a sharp fight or strong disagreement