clash

verb \ ˈklash \

|Updated on: 17 Aug 2018

Examples: clash in a Sentence

Definition of clash

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

See clash defined for English-language learners

See clash defined for kids

Examples of clash in a Sentence

Police and protesters clashed yesterday.
The sofa and the chair clash.
She ended the song by clashing the cymbals.

Recent Examples of clash from the Web

The Milwaukee Common Council and Mayor Tom Barrett appear set to clash once again on a contentious issue: changing the process of hiring and firing the police chief.

— ahmed elbenni, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, "Common Council and mayor clash over proposal to make Milwaukee police chief elected position," 3 July 2018
Police revoked Patriot Prayer's permit for the rally after the two groups began to clash.

— CBS News, "Right-wing activists Patriot Prayer, antifa clash at Portland protests," 1 July 2018
Star Thorne and showrunner King are said to have clashed on multiple occasions, with the actress exhibiting what sources described as 'diva-like behavior' on set.

— refinery29.com, "Famous In Love Isn't Even Cancelled Yet, So Why Is Everyone Coming For Bella Thorne?," 27 June 2018
In its early years, Uber repeatedly clashed with regulators in major cities around the world.

— timothy b. lee, Ars Technica, "Uber wins back its right to operate in London," 26 June 2018
Deeply controversial' Permission for the blimp must come from London Mayor Sadiq Khan, who is among a series of high-profile British figures to have publicly clashed with Trump over everything from immigration to health care.

— NBC News, "Trump's visit to Britain faces mass protest marches — and a giant baby blimp," 24 June 2018
Until Bamba proves otherwise, questions will linger over his unpolished offensive game and drive and willingness to clash in the post.

— nick moyle, San Antonio Express-News, "Orlando-bound: Magic select former Texas star Mo Bamba sixth overall in NBA draft," 21 June 2018
Johnson clashed with school board member John Laesch over the proposal and process leading up to it, the recording showed.

— sarah freishtat, Aurora Beacon-News, "Proposal to move East Aurora school district offices met with concern from preschool teachers," 21 June 2018
These stories clash with the world that appears just a few channels away on mainstream media outlets like MSNBC and CNN.

— alvin chang, Vox, "The stories Fox News covers obsessively — and those it ignores — in charts," 30 May 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'clash.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Origin and Etymology of clash

imitative

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: circa 1500

in the meaning defined at intransitive sense 1

See Words from the same year

clash Synonyms

clash

noun

Definition of clash

1 : a noisy usually metallic sound of collision

2 a : a hostile encounter : skirmish

b : a sharp conflict

a clash of opinions

See clash defined for English-language learners

Examples of clash in a Sentence

Hundreds were killed in ethnic clashes in the region last month.
a clash between rival gangs that resulted in some serious injuries

Recent Examples of clash from the Web

The New Jersey native was rewarded with a round-of-16 clash between Colombia and England, which became a heated affair, with the referee a lightning rod for criticism from Colombian players.

— avi creditor, SI.com, "American Referee Mark Geiger in Contention to Work World Cup Final," 9 July 2018
The clashes between forces that support President Daniel Ortega and demonstrators calling for his resignation mark the deadliest protests in Nicaragua since its civil war ended in 1990.

— NBC News, "Violence rings out at Nicaraguan church, university after nationwide strike," 14 July 2018
Government forces patrolled deserted streets and sealed off the hometown of Burhan Wani in anticipation of widespread anti-India protests and clashes in the region.

— Fox News, "Strike, curfew shuts Kashmir on rebel's death anniversary," 8 July 2018
The move led to deadly anti-China protests in Vietnam and clashes at sea between coast guard boats.

— john boudreau, Bloomberg.com, "In Vietnam, Discontent Lurks Under Surface of Economic Success," 19 June 2018
That clash between imagination and reality is what ultimately lures Parsons into the occult.

— thomas harlander, Los Angeles Magazine, "A Forgotten Pasadena Rocket Scientist and Occultist Inspired a New TV Show," 13 June 2018
The clashes between management and labor are all over the news.

— michael phillips, Detroit Free Press, "Review: Sci-fi and satire meet in ‘Sorry to Bother You’," 12 July 2018
That issue had led to a clash between Seehofer and Merkel, who repeatedly insisted that Germany shouldn't act unilaterally by sending back asylum seekers to other European countries that would then have to bear the biggest burden of the influx.

— kirsten grieshaber, Fox News, "Germany presents new, more restrictive migration plan," 10 July 2018
That issue had led to a clash between Seehofer and Merkel, who repeatedly insisted that Germany shouldn’t act unilaterally by sending back asylum seekers to other European countries that would then have to bear the biggest burden of the influx.

— kirsten grieshaber, The Seattle Times, "Germany presents new, more restrictive migration plan," 10 July 2018

First Known Use of clash

1513

in the meaning defined at sense 1

See Words from the same year

NEW! Time Traveler

clash Synonyms

Synonyms

battle, combat, conflict, contest, dustup, fight, fracas, fray, hassle, scrap, scrimmage, scuffle, skirmish, struggle, tussle;

Near Antonyms

truce;

Related Words

pitched battle, rough-and-tumble;

battle royal, brawl, donnybrook, free-for-all, melee (also mêlée), mix-up, ruckus, ruction;

blows, fistfight, fisticuffs, slugfest;

confrontation, duel, face-off, joust;

altercation, argument, contretemps, controversy, cross fire, disagreement, dispute, falling-out, kickup, misunderstanding, quarrel, row, spat, squabble, tangle, tiff, wrangle;

catfight;

CLASH Defined for English Language Learners

clash

verb

Definition of clash for English Language Learners

: to be in a situation in which you are fighting or disagreeing : to come into conflict with someone
: to look bad or ugly together
: to be very different in a way that makes being or working together difficult

clash

noun

Definition of clash for English Language Learners

: a short fight between groups of people
: an argument or disagreement between people
: a difference that makes it difficult for people or things to be together or work together