1
as in skirmish
a physical dispute between opposing individuals or groups
a clash between rival gangs that resulted in some serious injuries
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in rattle
the loud sound made when metal strikes metal
the clash of cymbals
Synonyms & Similar Words
as in to conflict
to be out of harmony or agreement usually noticeably
the colors of your shirt and pants clash a parent's idea of proper dress often clashes with a teenager's
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of clash
Chantal Da Silva, NBC news, 23 Jan. 2026
Because of the clash over resources for ICE, that puts some funding at risk and raises the possibility of a partial shutdown.
—Lisa Hagen, Hartford Courant, 23 Jan. 2026
Tim Sullivan, Fortune, 29 Jan. 2026
He is paired with an arrogant young partner (Lou), a second-generation political scion whose personality clashes sharply with his own.
—Jesse Whittock, Deadline, 29 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for clash
Noun
While al-Sharaa has vowed to build a more unified and representative Syria, his rule has struggled with deep divisions and deadly sectarian clashes across the country.
—Chantal Da Silva, NBC news, 23 Jan. 2026
Because of the clash over resources for ICE, that puts some funding at risk and raises the possibility of a partial shutdown.
—Lisa Hagen, Hartford Courant, 23 Jan. 2026
Verb
Take the recent afternoon in south Minneapolis, where dozens of protesters, some in gas masks, clashed with immigration agents in south Minneapolis.
—Tim Sullivan, Fortune, 29 Jan. 2026
He is paired with an arrogant young partner (Lou), a second-generation political scion whose personality clashes sharply with his own.
—Jesse Whittock, Deadline, 29 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for clash
Recent Examples of Synonyms for clash
Noun
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At least four videos appear to contradict the administration’s account that Pretti was holding a weapon during the skirmish leading up to his death.—
Karen Cortes,
NBC news,
26 Jan. 2026
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That led to a small skirmish with the governor’s office.—
Josie Reich,
Hartford Courant,
21 Jan. 2026
Noun
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The gift basket included items such as a rattle, books, swaddles, and a blanket, along with other essentials for new parents.—
Daniel I. Dorfman,
Chicago Tribune,
5 Jan. 2026
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Silver engraving, masks, totem poles, rattles, prints.—
Kerry Breen,
CBS News,
16 Dec. 2025
Verb
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If you are conflicted about a player or a decision, get more information.—
Jeff Zrebiec,
New York Times,
10 Jan. 2026
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The prospect of xAI powering Tesla’s humanoid robots could be seen as conflicting with past statements that Tesla’s leadership has made in attempts to portray the work the two companies are doing as largely separate and unrelated.—
Bloomberg,
Mercury News,
9 Jan. 2026
Noun
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In a city where detentions have largely played out on the streets, Homan’s comments have highlighted a battle that has been unfolding in the background.—
Elizabeth Wolfe,
CNN Money,
30 Jan. 2026
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The exercise of power, not surprisingly, contributed to the restlessness of a busy mind that waged battles against a committed opposition.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
29 Jan. 2026
Noun
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Known as the Mirzoyan-Terdjanian crime ring, defendants received one- to three-year sentences for racketeering, health care fraud and money laundering.—
William La Jeunesse,
FOXNews.com,
30 Jan. 2026
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Meantime, a controversy arose last week surrounding the mysterious capture in Mexico of Ryan Wedding, the former Canadian Olympic snowboarder who faces federal charges in California of running a billion-dollar drug-trafficking ring.—
Kate Linthicum,
Los Angeles Times,
30 Jan. 2026
Verb
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Companies operating in sectors tied to land, water, minerals, and security often sit directly on fault lines where rights claims and economic goals collide.—
Monica Sanders,
Forbes.com,
25 Jan. 2026
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The Super Bowl, Valentine’s Day, NBA All-Star and Chinese New Year will all collide to inform some of the month’s biggest releases.—
Ian Servantes,
Footwear News,
24 Jan. 2026
Noun
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There was one fight that happened organically when Aspirot dropped the gloves with Kirby Dach after a net-front battle.—
Steve Conroy,
Boston Herald,
25 Jan. 2026
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Democrats could also attempt next week to strip the DHS component from the legislation and fund the rest of the government while the ICE political fight continues to play out.—
Burgess Everett,
semafor.com,
25 Jan. 2026
Noun
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Jin Shin has come across some monster potholes over the last couple of weeks, including one in Koreatown that rattled his car with a sickening thump and another near the airport where its depth was obscured by water.—
Alex Wigglesworth,
Los Angeles Times,
14 Jan. 2026
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Twitchy enough to line up off the edge or run with a tight end in the slot, Fisher (6-1, 231) is a bit small but brings enough thump to be the type of linebacker who never has to leave the field.—
Nick Baumgardner,
New York Times,
9 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Clash.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/clash. Accessed 1 Feb. 2026.
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