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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
Instead of blaming or withdrawing, reconnect after hard moments and show your child that conflict doesn’t have to lead to shame or disconnection. Reem Raouda, CNBC, 25 May 2025 India is emerging after a brief conflict with Pakistan, with a ceasefire thankfully appearing to hold for now. Vasuki Shastry, Forbes.com, 24 May 2025
Verb
That would have conflicted with the early stops on his tour. Alexandra Del Rosario, Los Angeles Times, 21 May 2025 When June watches as the plane explodes in the sky, her emotions, conflicted and raw, also speak for the audience. Jackie Strause, HollywoodReporter, 19 May 2025 See All Example Sentences for conflict
Recent Examples of Synonyms for conflict
Noun
  • Image His support for Mr. Trump has led Tesla’s sales to plummet and has caused strife within his companies, as some employees have taken the rare step of speaking out against their chief executive’s political activity.
    Theodore Schleifer, New York Times, 20 May 2025
  • In 1961-1962, the U.S. political climate was icy, amid escalating strife with the Soviet Union, but there was a warmth emanating from the burgeoning counterculture movement.
    Natasha Gural, Forbes.com, 8 May 2025
Noun
  • Trump tests legal strategies as judges block his policies As the clash becomes a defining moment in the president's second term, conservative activists are pushing Congress to rein in federal judges and pressing Trump to intensify his fight with the courts.
    Zac Anderson, USA Today, 26 May 2025
  • The clash between Villaraigosa’s environmentalist credentials and oil-industry ties surfaced in the governor’s race after Valero announced in late April that its Bay Area refinery would close next year, not long after Phillips 66 said its Wilmington refinery would close in 2025.
    Seema Mehta, Los Angeles Times, 26 May 2025
Noun
  • These meetings initially took place virtually and then in person across different capitals, seeking a cessation of hostilities and the establishment of humanitarian corridors.
    Daniel R. Depetris, MSNBC Newsweek, 10 Apr. 2025
  • But Putin had other ideas, tying a halt in hostilities to the West readmitting certain Russian banks into the West’s financial network.
    Daniel DePetris, Chicago Tribune, 8 Apr. 2025
Noun
  • This is also a historic rivalry, so that's why so many people are tuning in.
    Ryan Stano, MSNBC Newsweek, 31 May 2025
  • How can the club improve its image around the world, where international fans are less concerned with local rivalries?
    Jamie Barton, CNN Money, 31 May 2025
Verb
  • In December 2000, a plane collided with two deer after landing.
    Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 1 June 2025
  • During the same time period, vehicles collided into 500 black bears mostly while traveling along mountain roadways.
    Noël Fletcher, Forbes.com, 30 May 2025
Noun
  • Gone was the discord and rudeness that is often synonymous with the Big Apple.
    Leonard Greene, New York Daily News, 25 May 2025
  • Evidently, the discord stemmed from their division of labor.
    Jeremy Helligar, People.com, 27 Apr. 2025
Noun
  • Nuñez warned that more skirmishes could occur on Sunday as PSG will parade on the Champs-Élysées before celebrating the title with their fans at the Parc des Princes stadium.
    Reuters, CNN Money, 1 June 2025
  • Thailand and Cambodia have a long history of land disputes, though Thailand said after the short skirmish that the situation had been resolved.
    DAVID RISING, Arkansas Online, 31 May 2025
Noun
  • Trump, who was inaugurated on January 20, had campaigned on a promise to end the war within 24 hours of his return to office.
    Isabel van Brugen, MSNBC Newsweek, 27 May 2025
  • Dina has been shot by an arrow in the crossfire of the war between the Washington Liberation Front/Wolves, the militia that Abby is a part of, and the Seraphites, a cult-ish religious group fond of lynching.
    Kelly Lawler, USA Today, 27 May 2025

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Conflict.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/conflict. Accessed 5 Jun. 2025.

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