clash

play

verb \ ˈklash \

Definition of clash

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

Like many cousins, Tyler and Ryan Lilomaiava often clash.

— rick mauch, star-telegram, "Why this football season will be a special reunion for two L.D. Bell cousins," 29 Aug. 2017
So has talk of wider protests in the wake of the events in Charlottesville, Va., where this month neo-Nazis clashed with counterprotesters.

— ken belson, New York Times, "Kaepernick’s Protest Cascades Into Protests Over His Job Situation," 23 Aug. 2017
In Charlottesville, white nationalists and counterprotesters clashed over the removal of a Confederate monument.

— jason hancock, kansascity, "‘I hope Trump is assassinated,’ Missouri lawmaker writes — and quickly regrets," 17 Aug. 2017
UF's decision comes after crowds of white nationalists and white supremacists clashed with counterprotesters last weekend in Charlottesville, home to the University of Virginia.

— the washington post, AL.com, "University of Florida bars Richard Spencer from speaking on campus," 16 Aug. 2017
The violence that engulfed Charlottesville, Va., as white nationalists clashed with counter-protesters came as no surprise to some Northwest Indiana residents.

— javonte anderson, Post-Tribune, "Charlottesville rally violence no surprise for some," 14 Aug. 2017
McAuliffe's action came as demonstrators violently clashed Saturday morning ahead of the rally, which was attracting white nationalists and right-wing groups from all over the country.

— paula rogo, Essence.com, "In Day Of Violent Clashes, Car Slams Into Counter-White Nationalist Protesters In Charlottesville," 12 Aug. 2017
When their national cricket teams clashed in June at the Oval, a hallowed ground in London, passions on both sides ran equally high.

— The Economist, "Reconciliation is not impossible, but it will be a long, slow process," 22 July 2017
The bleeding memories of her witnesses clashed with the gloss and bombast of the official rhetoric.

— The Economist, "Remembering the Great Patriotic War was a political act," 20 July 2017

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

See Words from the same year

clash Synonyms

Synonyms

collide, conflict, disaccord, discord, jar

Antonyms

accord, blend, conform (to or with), fit, harmonize, match

Related Words

battle, combat, engage, fight, war (against); chafe, gall, grate, jangle; differ, disagree, dissent

Near Antonyms

agree, assent, coincide, concur, correspond

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

While in Afghanistan’s warmer climes the fighting season usually lasts almost year-round, clashes elsewhere in the country usually taper off by the end of October.

— thomas gibbons-neff, Washington Post, "Afghan troop surge likely to include thousands of paratroopers, Marines and heavy bombers," 30 Aug. 2017
A group of around 50 journalists was reporting on the clashes between the national guards and anti-government protesters when the pro-government forces targeted their motorbikes at a corner of the Plaza Francia de Altamira, in the capital.

— jim wyss, miamiherald, "Venezuelan lawmaker says hunger, not politics, will drive Maduro from power," 29 Aug. 2017
Seven men, however battle-tested, were not going to come out of a clash against the army of the undead unscathed.

— joanna robinson, HWD, "Game of Thrones Really Needs to Start Killing off Its Heroes Again," 21 Aug. 2017
Rumors of Bannon’s imminent exit had reached a fever pitch this week as clashes between the conservative media mogul and his colleagues escalated.

— tina nguyen, vanityfair.com, "Steve Bannon Is Leaving the White House," 18 Aug. 2017
The deadly clash in Charlottesville, Va., resulted from a showdown between white supremacists and protesters to a statue of Gen. Robert E. Lee.

— rick montgomery, kansascity, "Few firing complaints at Missouri’s Confederate monuments: ‘Just some guy on a horse’," 18 Aug. 2017
More than 200 people gathered in Rockfield Park in Bel Air Sunday evening to express their shock and grief over those killed and injured in clashes between white nationalists and counter-protesters in Charlottesville, Va. the day before.

— david anderson, The Aegis, "Bel Air vigil for Charlottesville victims draws more than 200," 14 Aug. 2017
The president has been eerily silent amidst the violent clashes over white nationalism that overtook the university town of Charlottesville on Saturday.

— paula rogo, Essence.com, "Trump Remains Silent After Hate-Filled Racist Clashes In Charlottesville," 12 Aug. 2017
Christians, meanwhile, accuse Mr El-Rufai of siding with Muslim herders over lethal clashes with farmers in southern Kaduna.

— The Economist, "The lion at bayWould-be successors to the ailing Nigerian president are circling," 20 July 2017

First Known Use of clash

1513

clash Synonyms

Synonyms

battle, fight, combat, conflict, contest, dustup, fracas, fray, hassle, scrap, scrimmage, scrum, scuffle, skirmish, struggle, tussle

Related Words

pitched battle, rough-and-tumble; affray [chiefly British], battle royal, brawl, broil, donnybrook, free-for-all, melee (also mêlée), mix-up, ruckus, ruction; blows, fistfight, fisticuffs, grapple, handgrips, punch-out, punch-up [chiefly British], slugfest; confrontation, duel, face-off, joust; altercation, argle-bargle [chiefly British], argument, argy-bargy [chiefly British], contretemps, controversy, cross fire, disagreement, dispute, falling-out, kickup, misunderstanding, quarrel, row, spat, squabble, tangle, tiff, wrangle; catfight

Near Antonyms

truce

CLASH Defined for English Language Learners

clash

play

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

CLASH Defined for Kids

clash

play

verb \ ˈklash \

Definition of clash for Students

clashed; clashing

1 :to make or cause to make the loud sound of metal objects hitting

clashing cymbals

2 :to come into conflict

Protesters clashed with the police.

3 :to not go together well

Their personalities clashed.

Your shirt and tie clash.

clash

noun

Definition of clash for Students

1 :a loud sharp sound usually of metal striking metal

the clash of swords

2 :a struggle or strong disagreement

It was inevitable that the clash for leadership should come.
—Jack London, The Call of the Wild

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clash

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clash

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clash

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