clash

[ klash ]

/ klæʃ /

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.

RELATED WORDS

discord, disagreement, opposition

Nearby words

Origin of clash

1490–1500; blend of clap¹ and dash¹

SYNONYMS FOR clash

1 clang, crash.

10 disagreement, altercation, dispute. See struggle.

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR clash ON THESAURUS.COM

ANTONYMS FOR clash

10 agreement, cooperation.

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

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

Examples from the Web for clashing

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 porcupine met his approach with a furious squealing and a clashing of its long teeth.
White Fang|Jack London
There, would be no disturbance, no clashing of wills and of interests, but calm and silence and the time to love.
The Call of the Blood|Robert Smythe Hichens
And it was after I had commanded the babel of clashing voices to hush that I could hear the still, small voice of Reason.
The Story of My Mind|M. M. Mangasarian
Up this slope they raced, with the clashing of monstrous fangs close behind them.
In the Morning of Time|Charles G. D. Roberts
It carries me back to my days at the play, I swear, to hear him and Lady Berenicia clashing rapiers in badinage.
In the Valley|Harold Frederic

British Dictionary definitions for clashing

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 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 (1 of 2)

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.

Word Origin and History for clashing (1 of 2)

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.

clash

verb (used without object)

verb (used with object)

noun

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RELATED WORDS

Nearby words

Origin of clash

Examples from the Web for clashing

British Dictionary definitions for clashing

clash

verb

noun

Word Origin for clash

Word Origin and History for clashing (1 of 2)

clash

Word Origin and History for clashing (1 of 2)

clash