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
Lauren Peller, ABC News, 16 Dec. 2025
The Wall of Death, incidentally, involves splitting the crowd down the middle, creating a channel of space, and then having the two sides charge across it like clashing medieval armies.
—James Parker, The Atlantic, 16 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
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
Moderates in Johnson's party clashed with him behind closed doors later Tuesday afternoon, questioning the speaker not only on his intent to allow the COVID-era subsidies for health care premiums to expire, but also the party's messaging as lawmakers brace for the backlash from their constituents.
—Lauren Peller, ABC News, 16 Dec. 2025
The Wall of Death, incidentally, involves splitting the crowd down the middle, creating a channel of space, and then having the two sides charge across it like clashing medieval armies.
—James Parker, The Atlantic, 16 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 19 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
Love words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share