clash

[klash]

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR clash ON THESAURUS.COM

verb (used without object)

to make a loud, harsh noise: The gears of the old car clashed and grated.

to come together or collide, especially noisily: The cymbals clashed.

to conflict; disagree: Their stories of the accident clashed completely.

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

to engage in a physical conflict or contest, as in a game or a battle (often followed by with): The Yankees clash with the White Sox for the final game of the season.

verb (used with object)

to strike with a resounding or violent collision: He clashed his fist against the heavy door.

to produce (sound) by or as by collision: The tower bell clashed its mournful note.

noun

a loud, harsh noise, as of a collision: The automobiles collided with a terrible clash.

a collision, especially a noisy one.

a conflict; opposition, especially of views or interests: a clash between nations.

a battle, fight, or skirmish: The clash between the border patrols left three men dead.

Origin of clash

1490–1500; blend of clap¹ and dash¹

Related formsclash·er, nounclash·ing·ly, adverbin·ter·clash, noun, verbun·clash·ing, adjective

Synonyms for clash

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR clash ON THESAURUS.COM

1. clang, crash. 10. disagreement, altercation, dispute. See struggle.

Antonyms for clash

10. agreement, cooperation.

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Related Words for clashing

discord, disagreement, opposition

Examples from the Web for clashing

Contemporary Examples of clashing

Some brought rocks and bricks, intent on clashing with the police.
St. Louis Shooting Is the Anti-Ferguson
Justin Glawe
December 25, 2014
Picasso, with his polka-dot shirt and clashing tie attempted an air of bravado, but lost confidence by the minute.
Did Picasso Try to Steal the Mona Lisa?
Nick Mafi
October 23, 2014
After clashing with coach Victor Tikhonov, a KGB-installed tyrant, he chose to challenge the government and defect to the NHL.
Putin’s Hockey Pal Tells All: Slava Fetisov on ‘Red Army,’ Soviet Nostalgia, and What Drives Putin
Marlow Stern
October 9, 2014
They are clashing with Israeli police with a ferocity not seen since the second Intifada.
The Seeds of the Next Intifada
Jesse Rosenfeld
July 7, 2014
History does not record whether it was enforced, though Indians and NOPD kept on clashing.
Mardi Gras Indian Chief Larry Bannock’s Final Ride
Jason Berry
May 16, 2014

Historical Examples of clashing

There was a sound of rude voices, and a clashing of swords and staves.
A Little Book of Profitable Tales
Eugene Field
There was a great snarling and growling, a clashing of teeth and a flurry of bodies.
White Fang
Jack London
He sees Germany still a mere crazy-quilt of clashing states.
Blood and Iron
John Hubert Greusel
She got up with a clashing of little chains and yawned broadly.
The Prisoner
Alice Brown
The policies of the English colonists and of their general government were ever clashing.
Afloat on the Ohio
Reuben Gold Thwaites

British Dictionary definitions for clashing

clash

verb

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

(intr) to be incompatible; conflict

(intr) to engage together in conflict or contest

(intr) (of dates or events) to coincide

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

noun

a loud harsh noise

a collision or conflict

Scot gossip; tattle

Derived Formsclasher, nounclashingly, adverb

Word Origin for clash

C16: of imitative origin

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

Word Origin and History for clashing

clash

c.1500, "to make a loud, sharp sound," of imitative origin, or a blend of clap and crash. Cf. Dutch kletsen "splash, clash," German klatschen, Danish klaske "clash, knock about." Figurative sense, in reference to non-physical strife or battle, is first attested 1620s. Of things, "to come into collision," from 1650s; of colors, "to go badly together," first recorded 1894. Related: Clashed; clashing.

clash

1510s, "sharp, loud noise of collision," from clash (v.). Especially of the noise of conflicting metal weapons. Meaning "hostile encounter" is from 1640s; meaning "conflict of opinions, etc." is from 1781.