clash

verb \ ˈklash \

|Updated on: 22 Jun 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

As the remaining researchers continued to clash with NuSI over the summer about the second phase, the pilot results were finally published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition in July.

— megan molteni, WIRED, "The Collapse of a $40 Million Nutrition Science Crusade," 18 June 2018
No one immediately claimed the attack, but it was likely carried out by the Islamic State group, which was not included in the cease-fire and has clashed with the Taliban in the past.

— Fox News, "Death toll from suicide bombing in Afghanistan climbs to 36," 17 June 2018
Oil headed for a second weekly decline in London as OPEC members were set to clash on raising production at a meeting next week.

— grant smith, Houston Chronicle, "Oil set for loss as OPEC supply clash looms," 15 June 2018
Iran’s vision of a decentralized Syria, in particular, is likely to clash with Russia’s preference for a stronger central government.

— thomas juneau, Washington Post, "Why Iran’s involvement in Syria may backfire," 12 June 2018
For example, a couple with young children are bound to clash with a group of singles that roll in at 3:00 am every morning.

— amy louise bailey, Vogue, "How to Master the Art of Group Travel," 7 June 2018
With the game played on neutral ground, Real was technically the away team, which forced it into wearing its purple road jerseys to clash with Juventus’ black-and-white stripes.

— joshua robinson, WSJ, "Zinedine Zidane Steps Down as Real Madrid Manager," 31 May 2018
McMahon also addressed Trump’s actions on immigration and diversity, something the tech industry has publicly clashed with the president on.

— shirin ghaffary, Recode, "America needs to be the No. 1 tech industry in the world, according to Trump’s small business leader Linda McMahon," 30 May 2018
Still, Nielsen has few friends in the White House besides Kelly and has clashed with Miller, the influential immigration adviser.

— author: josh dawsey, nick miroff, Anchorage Daily News, "‘We’re closed!’: Trump directs his anger over immigration at Homeland Security secretary," 25 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

But could the outcome of a crucial World Cup clash between the two nations damage their relations?

— Washington Post, "World Cup Russia 2018 newsletter," 18 June 2018
USA TODAY Sports Flies and mosquitos are running rampant in the Russian city of Volgograd ahead of Monday's World Cup clash between England and Tunisia.

— jesse yomtov, USA TODAY, "Massive swarms of bugs are invading the World Cup ahead of England-Tunisia in Volgograd," 18 June 2018
The move showcases a rare clash between two paramount political issues for many British voters, protecting the nation’s beloved NHS and cutting immigration.

— jenny gross, WSJ, "U.K. to Relax Immigration Rules to Aid Struggling National Health Service," 14 June 2018
But any other potential clashes between the candidates were constrained by the no-rebuttal format.

— michael dresser, baltimoresun.com, "Pot, polls and pizza: Maryland Democratic candidates for governor end debate on high note," 14 June 2018
The Elysee said in a statement Thursday that Macron and Conte spoke by phone on Wednesday amid an escalating clash between the two countries over migration.

— Fox News, "France, Italy leaders meet Friday amid clash over migration," 14 June 2018
An American university student was among the dozens of protesters beaten and arrested in Vietnam this week during clashes between demonstrators and police, according to the New York Times.

— laignee barron, Time, "American University Student Arrested in Police Crackdown on Protests in Vietnam," 14 June 2018
Kennedy saw it as a clash between witness and policy.

— sean illing, Vox, "What a 1963 RFK-James Baldwin meeting teaches us about race in Trump’s America," 8 June 2018
This immediately spills out into a street clash between police and the citizenry.

— michael phillips, chicagotribune.com, "'Hotel Artemis': Sterling K. Brown checks into Criminal Hospital, and Jodie Foster's on duty," 7 June 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