conflict

[ verb kuhn-flikt; noun kon-flikt ]

verb (used without object)

1. to come into collision or disagreement; be contradictory, at variance, or in opposition; clash:

   The account of one eyewitness conflicted with that of the other. My class conflicts with my going to the concert.

   Synonyms: oppose, collide

2. to fight or contend; do battle.

noun

1. a fight, battle, or struggle, especially a prolonged struggle; strife.

   Synonyms: siege, encounter

2. controversy; quarrel:

   conflicts between parties.

   Antonyms: accord

3. discord of action, feeling, or effect; antagonism or opposition, as of interests or principles:

   a conflict of ideas.

   Synonyms: opposition, contention

4. a striking together; collision.
5. incompatibility or interference, as of one idea, desire, event, or activity with another:

   a conflict in the schedule.

6. Psychiatry. a mental struggle arising from opposing demands or impulses.

conflict

noun

1. a struggle or clash between opposing forces; battle
2. a state of opposition between ideas, interests, etc; disagreement or controversy
3. a clash, as between two appointments made for the same time
4. psychol opposition between two simultaneous but incompatible wishes or drives, sometimes leading to a state of emotional tension and thought to be responsible for neuroses

verb

1. to come into opposition; clash
2. to fight

Derived Forms

• conˈfliction, noun
• conˈflictive, adjective

Other Words From

• con·flic·tion noun
• con·flic·tive con·flic·to·ry [k, uh, n-, flik, -t, uh, -ree], adjective
• non·con·flic·tive adjective
• pre·con·flict verb (used without object)
• pre·con·flict noun
• self-con·flict noun
• un·con·flic·tive adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of conflict¹

First recorded in 1375–1425; late Middle English (noun), from Latin conflīctus “a striking together,” equivalent to conflīg(ere) “to strike together, contend” ( con- con- + flīgere “to strike”) + -tus suffix of verb action; (verb) from Latin conflīctus, past participle of conflīgere, or by verb use of the noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of conflict¹

C15: from Latin conflictus, from conflīgere to combat, from flīgere to strike

Synonym Study

See fight.

Example Sentences

But the presence of President Assad had seemed to be a seal, however unsatisfactory, on the deadly conflict that had raged for years.

From BBC

It’s a film that presents conflict as something that we can approach with curiosity rather than derision.

From Salon

Their jovial temperament is perched in direct conflict with their circumstances, a plight that they’ve learned to normalize to go on living instead of existing in permanent stasis.

From Salon

The main departure is in the scope of the conflict: its heroes are out to save their nations or the world.

From Salon

Above all, they focus on fostering deliberative public engagement rather than rewarding performative conflict.

From Salon

Related Words

• battle
• clash
• combat
• competition
• rivalry
• strife
• struggle
• war