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

Lackard, 20, had been in court that day for a hearing on his ongoing case stemming from a November 2024 clash with NYPD cops in which he was shot and wounded by police. — Emma Seiwell, New York Daily News, 5 Aug. 2026

Later, the Moon squares the Leo Sun, so personal pride may clash with practical needs. — Tarot.com, The Orlando Sentinel, 5 Aug. 2026

Noun

That clash of different tonalities and the uncertainty of getting it right became the show’s greatest throughline creative asset. — Deadline, 7 Aug. 2026

In a second clash, Elliott is also tangling with former Speaker Brendan Sharkey, a Hamden Democrat who did not seek reelection to the legislature and was succeeded by Elliott. — Christopher Keating, Hartford Courant, 6 Aug. 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