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

The two sides have clashed mightily over data centers, which are broadly unpopular with the public and which the No campaign says could make a bid for the streamlined permitting process, something the Yes side strenuously denies. — Andrew Graham october 27, Sacbee.com, 28 Oct. 2026

Affordable housing The two candidates have clashed on the issue of high housing costs and local zoning authority with Lamont signing an affordable housing bill after vetoing an earlier version. — Christopher Keating, Hartford Courant, 28 Oct. 2026

Noun

Those clashes came as social unrest has set Europe's streets ablaze from France and Italy to Spain and Portugal, fueled by youth frustration over the state of public education, social services and the high cost of housing. — Jovana Gec, Arkansas Online, 27 Oct. 2026

The presidency said the military deployment began the day after the clashes. — ABC News, 27 Oct. 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