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Synonyms

clash

American  
[klash] / klæʃ /

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 British  
/ 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

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

noun

  1. a loud harsh noise

  2. a collision or conflict

  3. gossip; tattle

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Usage

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.

Other Word Forms

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

Etymology

Origin of clash

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

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

Brentford did get a penalty shortly afterwards for a clash between the same two players.

From BBC

Venus Williams was dumped out of the Hobart International in straight sets by Tatjana Maria Tuesday to dent her Australian Open preparations in a historic clash between two players with a combined age of 83.

From Barron's

Over the past two weeks, the clash between good and evil has seemed to be approaching a climax, and the brutality has escalated.

From The Wall Street Journal

Syria's government was in full control of Aleppo on Sunday after taking over the city's Kurdish neighbourhoods and evacuating fighters there to Kurdish autonomous areas following days of deadly clashes.

From Barron's

A two-day defeat in Perth by eight wickets and another by the same margin at the pink-ball clash in Brisbane left them reeling and in the firing line at home.

From Barron's