1
as in strife
a lack of agreement or harmony
the conflict between absolute freedom and personal responsibility
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in clash
a physical dispute between opposing individuals or groups
an armed conflict between strikers and strikebreakers
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3
as in hostilities
a state of armed violent struggle between states, nations, or groups
the United Nations strives to prevent international conflicts
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4
as in rivalry
an earnest effort for superiority or victory over another
the eternal conflict between the forces of good and evil
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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
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of conflict
Ximena Bustillo, NPR, 23 Feb. 2026
The harder question is what happens when tools designed for protecting against tangible harm migrate into ordinary political conflict.
—Stephanie A, The Conversation, 23 Feb. 2026
Terri Daxon, Oc Register, 18 Feb. 2026
But those media duties won’t conflict with organized team activities in May, as Jansen was able to schedule his broadcasting jobs around the offseason program calendar.
—Mike Kaye
february 17, Charlotte Observer, 17 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for conflict
Noun
The court was a visible point of conflict in 2025, as immigrant justice groups frequently rallied outside it to protest ICE arrests.
—Ximena Bustillo, NPR, 23 Feb. 2026
The harder question is what happens when tools designed for protecting against tangible harm migrate into ordinary political conflict.
—Stephanie A, The Conversation, 23 Feb. 2026
Verb
According Liz Pharis, Brea’s public information officer, there have been delays due to issues such as the necessity to relocate an SCE power pole that if left in place would conflict with ADA walkways to and from the park.
—Terri Daxon, Oc Register, 18 Feb. 2026
But those media duties won’t conflict with organized team activities in May, as Jansen was able to schedule his broadcasting jobs around the offseason program calendar.
—Mike Kaye
february 17, Charlotte Observer, 17 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for conflict
Recent Examples of Synonyms for conflict
Noun
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The film ruminates on guilt, familial strife, and trauma with Ball’s signature bittersweet touch, earning a Primetime Emmy nomination for Outstanding Television Movie.—
Kevin Jacobsen,
Entertainment Weekly,
22 Feb. 2026
-
When the nation is split because American values are in question or disregarded, strife ensues.—
Voice of the People,
New York Daily News,
20 Feb. 2026
Noun
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Israeli President Isaac Herzog’s visit earlier this month following the Bondi attack sparked protests at major Australian cities, including clashes between pro-Palestinian demonstrators with the police outside Sydney Town Hall.—
Chris Lau,
CNN Money,
21 Feb. 2026
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Hamilton reframed verbal clashes among the Founding Fathers as rap battles.—
Talya Zax,
The Atlantic,
21 Feb. 2026
Noun
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After the king attempted to arrest lawmakers in the House of Commons in 1642, hostilities erupted into the English Civil War, which ended with victory for the parliamentary forces of Oliver Cromwell.—
Danica Kirka,
Los Angeles Times,
19 Feb. 2026
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Israel’s ability to weaken major non-state actors aligned with Tehran, including Lebanese Hezbollah and Gaza’s Hamas, opened the door for direct hostilities between the two archrivals.—
Alexander Langlois,
Oc Register,
18 Feb. 2026
Noun
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Camden, who came to Cal as a transfer from Delaware, knew enough about the rivalry to get things right, almost.—
Jeff Faraudo,
Mercury News,
22 Feb. 2026
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Texas State's focus remains on the present, but Friday night, fans saw the seeds of a conference rivalry being sewn.—
Caleb Yum,
Austin American Statesman,
21 Feb. 2026
Verb
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The car left the roadway and hit a canal bank before colliding with a tree.—
Rose Evans,
Idaho Statesman,
21 Feb. 2026
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An off-duty Gary police officer and his family were injured when a police car collided with a semi-trailer truck on Thursday in northwest Indiana.—
Todd Feurer,
CBS News,
21 Feb. 2026
Noun
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The proposal has sparked Democratic discord ahead of 2026’s governor’s race, though neither billionaire has explicitly blamed the effort for their actions.—
Seema Mehta,
Los Angeles Times,
19 Feb. 2026
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Celebrate with an activity that allows for big release of energies, something athletic or competitive; a sedentary pleasure could lead to discord.—
Magi Helena,
Dallas Morning News,
14 Feb. 2026
Noun
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That adjective would not apply to a public skirmish between the president of the university and the consultant that conducted the study commissioned by the university.—
Bill Shaikin,
Los Angeles Times,
24 Feb. 2026
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Will Ser Duncan suffer any repercussions for having inspired such a bloody and damaging skirmish?—
Noel Murray,
Vulture,
23 Feb. 2026
Noun
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Melissa Barrera, who starred in the fifth and sixth movies, was fired from the seventh installment in 2023 after expressing support for the Palestinian cause and criticizing Israeli actions in the Israel-Hamas war.—
Ryan Coleman,
Entertainment Weekly,
26 Feb. 2026
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The tribute underscored the enduring legacy of the war, even as contemporary tensions on the peninsula went unaddressed in the speech.—
Will Ripley,
CNN Money,
26 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Conflict.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/conflict. Accessed 26 Feb. 2026.
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