conflict

American  

[kuhn-flikt, kon-flikt] / kənˈflɪkt, ˈkɒn flɪkt /

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.

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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 British  

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

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verb

1. to come into opposition; clash

2. to fight

Related Words

See fight.

Other Word Forms

• confliction noun
• conflictive adjective
• conflictory adjective
• nonconflictive adjective
• preconflict verb (used without object)
• self-conflict noun
• unconflictive adjective

Etymology

Origin of conflict

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

Example Sentences

The depth of the scarring from this conflict, on gas supply, and on control of one of the world's key economic arteries, remains an open question.

From BBC • Apr. 8, 2026

“If this is it – i.e. no prolonged conflict a la Iraq 2 – we can expect markets to look through the noise and this change to persist.”

From MarketWatch • Apr. 8, 2026

World Food Program predicts an additional 45 million could join them by the end of 2026 if the conflict in the Middle East continues into the middle of the year.

From Salon • Apr. 8, 2026

The positive momentum "is likely to be temporarily dampened as a result of the energy price shock associated with the conflict in the Middle East," the economy ministry said in a statement.

From Barron's • Apr. 8, 2026

Riddick hoped that the conflict would produce an annealed group capable of directing the charrette once it got started.

From "The Best of Enemies" by Osha Gray Davidson

Related Words

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