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
Amanda Le, InStyle, 4 Mar. 2026
Meanwhile, Vice President JD Vance’s role in selling a war in Iran is clashing with both his experience as an Iraq War veteran and anti-interventionist views.
—Marissa Martinez, NBC news, 4 Mar. 2026
CNN Money, 6 Mar. 2026
The ongoing clashes ended an earlier ceasefire brokered by Qatar and Turkey in October, when the two neighbors had again come close to a war.
—Suzan Fraser and Munir Ahmed The Associated Press, Arkansas Online, 5 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for clash
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Verb
Capes, fearless pattern clashing, and polished leather accessories defined Milan Fashion Week street style.
—Amanda Le, InStyle, 4 Mar. 2026
Meanwhile, Vice President JD Vance’s role in selling a war in Iran is clashing with both his experience as an Iraq War veteran and anti-interventionist views.
—Marissa Martinez, NBC news, 4 Mar. 2026
Noun
The long-festering malaise erupted into street demonstrations last September, triggered by a social media ban, that brought thousands onto the streets, leading to clashes and fatalities that forced the resignation of Oli.
—CNN Money, 6 Mar. 2026
The ongoing clashes ended an earlier ceasefire brokered by Qatar and Turkey in October, when the two neighbors had again come close to a war.
—Suzan Fraser and Munir Ahmed The Associated Press, Arkansas Online, 5 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for clash
Cite this Entry
“Clash.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/clash. Accessed 9 Mar. 2026.
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
Love words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
