conflict 1 of 2

Definition of conflictnext
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conflict

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verb

as in to clash
to be out of harmony or agreement usually noticeably his statement conflicts with the facts, as given in the police report

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Synonym Chooser

How does the noun conflict contrast with its synonyms?

Some common synonyms of conflict are contention, discord, dissension, strife, and variance. While all these words mean "a state or condition marked by a lack of agreement or harmony," conflict usually stresses the action of forces in opposition but in static applications implies an irreconcilability as of duties or desires.

the conflict of freedom and responsibility

In what contexts can contention take the place of conflict?

The words contention and conflict are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, contention applies to strife or competition that shows itself in quarreling, disputing, or controversy.

several points of contention about the new zoning law

When might discord be a better fit than conflict?

Although the words discord and conflict have much in common, discord implies an intrinsic or essential lack of harmony producing quarreling, factiousness, or antagonism.

a political party long racked by discord

When can dissension be used instead of conflict?

The synonyms dissension and conflict are sometimes interchangeable, but dissension implies strife or discord and stresses a division into factions.

religious dissension threatened to split the colony

Where would strife be a reasonable alternative to conflict?

In some situations, the words strife and conflict are roughly equivalent. However, strife emphasizes a struggle for superiority rather than the incongruity or incompatibility of the persons or things involved.

during his brief reign the empire was never free of civil strife

When could variance be used to replace conflict?

While in some cases nearly identical to conflict, variance implies a clash between persons or things owing to a difference in nature, opinion, or interest.

cultural variances that work against a national identity

Example Sentences

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.
Recent Examples of conflict
Noun
After years without sustained growth in Britain, economic headwinds linked to global conflicts and the fallout from Brexit, as well as his own electoral pledge of fiscal discipline, have left a leader who promised change with little room for major reforms or investment in ailing public services. Nick Duffy, NBC news, 22 June 2026 Aligned groups, such as Democratic Majority for Israel, have criticized more recent comments, including a May op-ed in which Van Hollen faults Israel for the failure of a two-state solution to the Palestinian conflict. David Sivak, The Washington Examiner, 22 June 2026
Verb
While no rules were broken, the revelations conflicted with Starmer’s portrayal of himself as an antidote to the cronyism displayed by successive Conservative leaders. Christian Edwards, CNN Money, 22 June 2026 Plot synopsis House of the Dragon attempts to condense and dramatize the conflicting accounts presented in Fire & Blood—stitched together from testimonies and court chronicles—into a single authoritative narrative. Encyclopedia Britannica, 22 June 2026 See All Example Sentences for conflict
Recent Examples of Synonyms for conflict
Noun
  • His Yanks might have won the World Series in 1994, Showalter’s third year, if that World Series hadn’t been canceled by labor strife.
    Ian O'Connor, New York Times, 17 June 2026
  • The tabloids have been extra vicious of late regarding your family strife.
    Marlow Stern, Variety, 12 June 2026
Noun
  • Panama coach Thomas Christiansen lamented a new World Cup rule that has left his team mathematically eliminated before their final Group L game, with today's clash against England offering only a chance to claw back some pride.
    NBC News, NBC news, 28 June 2026
  • If the favorites move on, Spain and Portugal would provide one of the more entertaining clashes in the entire tournament.
    Nick Harris, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 28 June 2026
Noun
  • The recent military action tested an initial agreement that was supposed to halt hostilities during 60 days of negotiations.
    Xiaoqian Lin, CNN Money, 29 June 2026
  • The attacks were the latest escalation of tensions between the two countries in recent days, following an interim agreement meant to bring an end to hostilities in the region.
    Azhar Sukri, CNBC, 28 June 2026
Noun
  • In his first chance to pitch against the Los Angeles Dodgers in his still-new Padres uniform Friday night, Buehler was a star in this NL West rivalry once again.
    ABC News, ABC News, 27 June 2026
  • The other final will see Swerve Strickland and Will Ospreay renew their rivalry from Forbidden Door 2024, this time with an AEW World Championship match at Wembley Stadium on the line.
    Rob Wolkenbrod, Forbes.com, 27 June 2026
Verb
  • The vehicle stopped at the end of the ramp, then the motorcycle collided with it.
    Nick Lentz, CBS News, 28 June 2026
  • State police learned that a 23-year-old man from Newington was driving a Lexus ES 300 on I-91 South just south of the on-ramp from the Whitehead Highway when a motorcycle traveling the wrong way collided with the vehicle.
    Staff Report, Hartford Courant, 27 June 2026
Noun
  • But the discord between the two leaders stretches far beyond disagreements over the conflict in the Middle East.
    Tiago Ventura, Time, 24 June 2026
  • Despite the discord, the regime is likely to have the final say.
    Tim Lister, CNN Money, 14 June 2026
Noun
  • While the war ended years before, the hostility spread from the stands — with skirmishes among supporters — into the field, when Maradona tricked the referee and the world with the World Cup’s most infamous goal, punching the ball into the net with his fist above England’s goalie Peter Shilton.
    Gabriel Sama, Mercury News, 21 June 2026
  • Continue reading … — Two arrested as skirmishes erupt outside courthouse after Karmelo Anthony verdict.
    , FOXNews.com, 12 June 2026
Noun
  • Between February and August, fallout from the Iran war will have destroyed 800 million barrels of oil demand, JPMorgan estimates.
    David Goldman, CNN Money, 25 June 2026
  • Oil tanker traffic through Hormuz before the war might represent the high point for transits for the foreseeable future, said Helima Croft, head of global commodity strategy at RBC Capital Markets.
    Anniek Bao, CNBC, 25 June 2026

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Conflict.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/conflict. Accessed 30 Jun. 2026.

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