conflict

[kuhn-flikt, 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

Other Word Forms

• confliction noun
• conflictive adjective
• conflictory adjective
• nonconflictive adjective
• preconflict noun
• self-conflict noun
• unconflictive 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

Throughout her career, she often embraced controversy and leaned into conflict.

Read more on BBC

Here, a possible escalation of the conflict is not the main concern of Venezuelans, who glance at the news while checking their wallets to find enough cash to pay.

Read more on BBC

The Welsh government says employees must not accept gifts or hospitality "which might foster the suspicion of a conflict between our official duties and our private interests".

Read more on BBC

TPS has allowed thousands of Somali nationals to live and work legally in the U.S. after fleeing conflict and humanitarian crises in Somalia.

Read more on Salon

This comes after the US issued a plan to end the conflict.

Read more on Barron's

Related Words

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