clashed; clashing; clashes
1
: to make a clash
cymbals clashed
2
: to come into conflict
Where ignorant armies clash by night.—
Matthew Arnold
Matthew Arnold
also
: to be incompatible
the colors clashed
: to cause to clash
clasher
noun
1
: a noisy usually metallic sound of collision
2
a
: a hostile encounter : skirmish
b
: a sharp conflict
a clash of opinions
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
Patrick Sung, CNN Money, 23 Dec. 2025
Council, board clashes Monday's special meeting came more than a month after the county council and the board clashed during a joint meeting.
—Dennis Valera, CBS News, 22 Dec. 2025
Jacqueline Howard, CNN Money, 17 Dec. 2025
The clash began when one woman grabbed another’s hand, prompting the second woman to yank her hand back and jab her in the stomach with an elbow.
—Greg Wehner, FOXNews.com, 17 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for clash
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show current usage.
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Verb
The team has a Week 17 road clash with the Chargers before hosting the floundering Colts in Week 18.
—Patrick Sung, CNN Money, 23 Dec. 2025
Council, board clashes Monday's special meeting came more than a month after the county council and the board clashed during a joint meeting.
—Dennis Valera, CBS News, 22 Dec. 2025
Noun
The organization, representing 67,000 US pediatricians, has criticized some of the agency’s positions and had ongoing clashes with officials, including a legal battle.
—Jacqueline Howard, CNN Money, 17 Dec. 2025
The clash began when one woman grabbed another’s hand, prompting the second woman to yank her hand back and jab her in the stomach with an elbow.
—Greg Wehner, FOXNews.com, 17 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for clash
Cite this Entry
“Clash.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/clash. Accessed 24 Dec. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
clash
1 of 2 verb1
: 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 noun1
: a loud sharp sound usually of metal striking metal
the clash of swords
2
: a sharp fight or strong disagreement
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