clash

1 of 2

verb

ˈklash 

clashed; clashing; clashes

intransitive verb

1

: to make a clash

cymbals clashed

2

: to come into conflict

Where ignorant armies clash by night.

—Matthew Arnold

also : to be incompatible

the colors clashed

transitive verb

: to cause to clash

clasher noun

clash

2 of 2

noun

1

: a noisy usually metallic sound of collision

2

a

: a hostile encounter : skirmish

b

: a sharp conflict

a clash of opinions

Synonyms of clash

Verb

• conflict
• collide

Noun

• skirmish
• battle
• fight
• struggle
• tussle

Examples of clash in a Sentence

Verb

Police and protesters clashed yesterday.

The sofa and the chair clash.

She ended the song by clashing the cymbals.

Noun

Hundreds were killed in ethnic clashes in the region last month.

a clash between rival gangs that resulted in some serious injuries

Recent Examples on the Web

Verb

Additionally, the energy demand required to reshore all supply chains at once would clash with huge energy needs of AI data centers over the same time period. — Ashley Belanger, ArsTechnica, 7 Oct. 2026

Leaders from the federal government and the Pennsylvania government have clashed over the response, with much of the debate centered around the five deaths that have come during this outbreak. — Deidre McPhillips, CNN Money, 7 Oct. 2026

Noun

Education Minister Edouard Geffray said Monday evening that 190 students had been injured in the protests, with a 15-year-old boy reportedly losing a hand in clashes with riot police in the northern city of Lens. — Chloe Taylor,jenni Reid, CNBC, 6 Oct. 2026

France's interior ministry said 6,100 people have been taken into custody since the protests began in September, while at least 715 police officers and 215 teenagers have been injured in clashes. — Greg Norman-Diamond, FOXNews.com, 6 Oct. 2026

Word History

Etymology

Verb

imitative

First Known Use

Verb

circa 1518, in the meaning defined at intransitive sense 1

Noun

circa 1522, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing clash

• battle/clash of wills
• clash of personalities

Rhymes for clash

• ash
• bash
• brash
• cache
• cash
• crash
• dash
• flash
• gash
• hash
• lash
• mash

Kids Definition

clash

1 of 2 verb

ˈklash 

1

: to make a clash

clashing cymbals

2

a

: to come into conflict

pickets clashed with the police

b

: to not match well

our ideas clashed

some colors clash

clasher noun

clash

2 of 2 noun

1

: a loud sharp sound usually of metal striking metal

the clash of swords

2

: a sharp fight or strong disagreement