clash

[ klash ]

/ klæʃ /

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See synonyms for: clash / clashes / clashing 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.

OTHER WORDS FOR clash

1 clang, crash.

10 disagreement, altercation, dispute.

See synonyms for clash on Thesaurus.com

OPPOSITES FOR clash

10 agreement, cooperation.

See antonyms for clash on Thesaurus.com

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Origin of clash

First recorded in 1490–1500; blend of clap¹ and dash¹

OTHER WORDS FROM clash

clasher, nounclash·ing·ly, adverbin·ter·clash, noun, verbun·clash·ing, adjective

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2022

MORE ABOUT CLASHING

What does clashing mean?

Clashing describes a loud, harsh noise, as with pieces of metal hitting each other, Roan loves the clashing cymbals in this symphony.

Clashing also describes two or more things coming together that cause conflict or argument. Clashing colors in a painting don’t look good together, while two clashing ideas don’t work together.

A clashing is an instance of things clashing, as in My brother and I couldn’t agree on anything, and our constant clashing frustrated our parents.

Example: The clashing of the cymbals gave the old tune a sense of vibrance and excitement.

Where does clashing come from?

The first records of the term clashing come from the late 1400s. Its root word, clash, combines the terms clap, meaning “to bring together forcefully,” and dash, meaning “to strike or smash violently.”

To clash has several senses. It can mean to make a loud noise, as when you drop a tray of silverware. It can also mean to collide, especially noisily, as when two cars hit each other. And it can mean to conflict or disagree. When there are two events you want to go to at the same time, you can say that their schedules clash. All of these senses inform clashing.

Did you know … ?

What are some other forms related to clashing?

clash (noun, verb)
clasher (noun)
clashingly (adverb)
interclash (noun, verb)
unclashing (adjective)

What are some synonyms for clashing?

What are some words that share a root or word element with clashing?

What are some words that often get used in discussing clashing?

How is clashing used in real life?

Clashing is often used to describe a sound or an event in question.

Lots of articles saying we are clashing … no ones clashing we are just having a bit of Family time after hitting the road for 3 years

— Liam (@LiamPayne) January 8, 2014

Going to make my next book a mess of clashing colors so no one can use it as a home decor brick in their color-sorted wall of unread books.

— Isaac Marion (@isaacinspace) August 12, 2018

*long thundering drumroll followed by 1,000 clashing cymbals* #madeinchelsea

— Made in Chelsea (@E4Chelsea) March 31, 2015

Try using clashing!

Which of the following is NOT a synonym for clashing?

A. arguing
B. bickering
C. conflicting
D. agreeing

How to use clash in a sentence

The shared responsibility also means that certain decisions can’t be made by either Powell or Mnuchin alone, setting the stage for the surprisingly outward-facing clash.
Treasury Secretary Mnuchin cuts off several Federal Reserve emergency aid programs, sparking unusual rebuke from Fed|Rachel Siegel, Jeff Stein|November 20, 2020|Washington Post
The result has been a clash of realities, one of many over the past four years.
The Trailer: Partisan realities clash, again, this time on the vote count|David Weigel|November 5, 2020|Washington Post
It seems like Philadelphia created a clash, it seems, and was looking for a fight, and brought that serious controversy all the way to the Supreme Court.
Supreme Court appears poised to rule for foster care agency against LGBTQ couples|Chris Johnson|November 4, 2020|Washington Blade
Businesses have been boarded up in multiple cities in anticipation of street clashes.
Butterfly Effect: Who’s the Sh*thole Now?|Charu Kasturi|November 4, 2020|Ozy

Those protests resulted in clashes with police, broken windows and damaged police cars.
D.C. police and businesses prepare for possible Election Day unrest|Peter Hermann, Emily Davies|October 30, 2020|Washington Post
Some brought rocks and bricks, intent on clashing with the police.
St. Louis Shooting Is the Anti-Ferguson|Justin Glawe|December 25, 2014|DAILY BEAST
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|DAILY BEAST
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|DAILY BEAST
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|DAILY BEAST
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|DAILY BEAST
The bells were clashing merrily from the village spire as the party passed out of the church porch.
The Pit Town Coronet, Volume I (of 3)|Charles James Wills
In the procession I should feel the crushing feet, the clashing discords, the ruthless hands and stifling breath.
The Awakening and Selected Short Stories|Kate Chopin
A sullen calm fell, and the smack rolled with clashing blocks and groaning spars, making night hideous.
The Chequers|James Runciman
There was, therefore, no clashing of interests between the army and navy, as to disposition of proceeds.
The Supplies for the Confederate Army|Caleb Huse
The two men crossed swords, and for some minutes a furious clashing of steel could be heard.
The Border Rifles|Gustave Aimard

British Dictionary definitions for clash

clash

/ (klæʃ) /

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 forms of clash

clasher, 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

clash

OTHER WORDS FOR clash

OPPOSITES FOR clash

Origin of clash

OTHER WORDS FROM clash

MORE ABOUT CLASHING

What does clashing mean?

Where does clashing come from?

Did you know … ?

How is clashing used in real life?

Try using clashing!

Words related to clash

How to use clash in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for clash

Derived forms of clash

Word Origin for clash