clash

[klash]

verb (used without object)

1. to make a loud, harsh noise.

   The gears of the old car clashed and grated.

   Synonyms: crash, clang

2. to come together or collide, especially noisily.

   The cymbals clashed.

3. to conflict; disagree.

   Their stories of the accident clashed completely.

4. (of juxtaposed colors) to be offensive to the eye.

5. to engage in a physical conflict or contest, as in a game or a battle (often followed bywith ).

   The Yankees clash with the White Sox for the final game of the season.

verb (used with object)

1. to strike with a resounding or violent collision.

   He clashed his fist against the heavy door.

2. to produce (sound) by or as by collision.

   The tower bell clashed its mournful note.

noun

1. a loud, harsh noise, as of a collision.

   The automobiles collided with a terrible clash.

2. a collision, especially a noisy one.

3. a conflict; opposition, especially of views or interests.

   a clash between nations.

   Synonyms: dispute, altercation, disagreement
   Antonyms: cooperation, agreement

4. a battle, fight, or skirmish.

   The clash between the border patrols left three men dead.

clash

/ klæʃ /

verb

1. to make or cause to make a loud harsh sound, esp by striking together

2. (intr) to be incompatible; conflict

3. (intr) to engage together in conflict or contest

4. (intr) (of dates or events) to coincide

5. (intr) (of colours) to look ugly or inharmonious together

noun

1. a loud harsh noise

2. a collision or conflict

3. gossip; tattle

Other Word Forms

• clasher noun
• clashingly adverb
• interclash noun
• unclashing adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of clash¹

First recorded in 1490–1500; blend of clap ¹ and dash ¹

Word History and Origins

Origin of clash¹

C16: of imitative origin

Example Sentences

The election, held on 12 October, has been marred with deadly violence, and in recent days, hundreds of Tchiroma Bakary's supporters have defied protest bans in several cities, and clashed with security forces.

Read more on BBC

For Saturday's game, a Premier League game in the same city clashed with the kick-off time.

Read more on BBC

The South China Sea is one of the world’s most contested waterways, where Beijing’s claims for territorial waters clash with those of several Southeast Asian nations.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

Flights between the two countries were first suspended during the Covid pandemic in early 2020 and did not restart after a deadly clash in a disputed Himalayan border area escalated tensions.

Read more on BBC

Four people were killed in clashes between security forces and supporters of a Cameroon opposition leader who claims to have won recent presidential elections, a regional governor said, ahead of official results announced Monday.

Read more on Barron's

Related Words

• argument 
• battle 
• brawl 
• conflict 
• confrontation 
• crash 
• dispute 
• encounter 
• fracas 
• melee 
• misunderstanding 
• rift 
• riot 
• showdown 
• skirmish 

When To Use

What are other ways to say clash?

A clash is a conflict; this word is also used in reference to opposition, especially of views or interests. How does clash compare to brush and struggle? Find out on Thesaurus.com.