clash

verb

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\ ˈklash

clashed; clashing; clashes

Definition of clash

(Entry 1 of 2)

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

clash

noun

Definition of clash (Entry 2 of 2)

1 : a noisy usually metallic sound of collision

2a : a hostile encounter : skirmish

b : a sharp conflict a clash of opinions

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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 Collins, who is seeking a fifth term, is considered among the most vulnerable Republican senators, a new position for her in a state where rising polarization and partisanship is clashing with a culture of independence. — Washington Post, "Democrat looking to unseat Sen. Collins wins key endorsement," 23 Jan. 2020 Legislators are clashing over the best ways to distribute more than $1 billion in surplus funds. — BostonGlobe.com, "He told Beacon Hill leaders," 7 Dec. 2019 In the 2015 movie of the same name, police bust down a crack-house door with an armored vehicle, cops and citizens clash on the streets, anger and tension and gunfire fill the air. — Scott Ostler, SFChronicle.com, "49ers’ Richard Sherman: How Compton childhood shaped his NFL journey," 17 Oct. 2019 The channel is embroiled in a controversy over anchor Mark Ravenhead's ties to fascist groups, and his supporters are clashing with antifa outside Waystar HQ. — Julie Kosin, Harper's BAZAAR, "What Kind of Game Is Kendall Playing on Succession?," 2 Sep. 2019 That becomes even more apparent when Mateo clashes on his first day at the new school with a sports car-driving blond jock (Sam Ashby), a walking visual cliché of rich, white, immigrant-taunting entitlement. — David Rooney, The Hollywood Reporter, "'Blast Beat': Film Review | Sundance 2020," 27 Jan. 2020 The headliners have clashed on social media and may steer clear of each other in Davos. — Hadas Gold, CNN, "Trump vs. Thunberg: The climate crisis could dominate Davos," 19 Jan. 2020 The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission clashed frequently with Obama’s EPA on the scope of its environmental reviews. — Jean Chemnick, Scientific American, "Trump Administration Moves to Limit Climate Reviews for Federal Projects," 9 Jan. 2020 On Monday’s episode, the two clashed during a discussion over President Trump’s impeachment. — Essence, "Whoopi Goldberg And Meghan McCain Address Clash On 'The View'," 17 Dec. 2019 Recent Examples on the Web: Noun The Idlib offensive has also triggered clashes between Syrian and Turkish troops in which 13 Turkish soldiers have died in one week. — Andrew Wilks, BostonGlobe.com, "US troops clash with progovernment group in northeast Syria," 12 Feb. 2020 American Factory, a documentary about the culture clash between American and Chinese workers at a glass-manufacturing plant in Ohio, won the Academy Award for Best Documentary Feature on Feb. 9. — Adam Epstein, Quartz, "The Obama effect is already paying off for Netflix," 11 Feb. 2020 Two separate clashes between Syrian and Turkish troops have killed 13 on each side, including five Turkish soldiers who were killed in Syrian shelling on Monday. — Washington Post, "AP Interview: FM says Turkey won’t pull out amid Syria push," 11 Feb. 2020 Mack watched Monday night's clash between Duke and Florida State, the two teams toward the top of the ACC standings next to Louisville. — Lucas Aulbach, The Courier-Journal, "Your scouting report for Louisville basketball at Georgia Tech — and how to watch," 11 Feb. 2020 But one is left wondering whether her emphasis on the clash between capital and the people, with the legal profession as the crucial mediator, does justice to the third party in her story: the administrative state. — Adam Tooze, The New York Review of Books, "How ‘Big Law’ Makes Big Money," 28 Jan. 2020 Quite often, and certainly when Trump first entered the White House, the tension between him and the Davos crowd was pitched as a great first-principles clash between reactionary nationalism and multicultural globalism. — Jeff Spross, TheWeek, "Of course Davos loves Trump," 22 Jan. 2020 The film focuses on the clash between a Chinese billionaire and working-class America through the lens of a car plant in Dayton, Ohio. — Halley Bondy, NBC News, "In the know: Women in the news 1/13 -1/17," 17 Jan. 2020 Still, expect the debate moderators to instigate a possible clash between Warren and Sanders, and watch whether either candidate takes the bait. — Fortune, "Tonight’s Democratic Debate: How to Watch, Start Time—And 4 Key Issues to Watch for During It," 14 Jan. 2020

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.