1
as in skirmishes
a physical dispute between opposing individuals or groups
a clash between rival gangs that resulted in some serious injuries
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in rattles
the loud sound made when metal strikes metal
the clash of cymbals
Synonyms & Similar Words
as in conflicts
to be out of harmony or agreement usually noticeably
the colors of your shirt and pants clash a parent's idea of proper dress often clashes with a teenager's
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of clashes
Bruce Finley, Denver Post, 27 Apr. 2026
Last year, clashes between farmers and herders in southwestern Chad left 42 people dead and several homes burned.
—ABC News, 27 Apr. 2026
The massive expansion of enforcement operations drew local resistance from activists, leading to clashes with federal agents and the deaths of residents Renee Good and Alex Pretti during confrontations with ICE and Border Patrol.
—Alex Derosier, Twin Cities, 26 Apr. 2026
City will have one eye on clinching the FA Cup trophy for the third time in eight years, while Arsenal’s Champions League semi-final clashes with Atletico Madrid will take plenty out of them physically and mentally.
—Mark Carey, New York Times, 25 Apr. 2026
Israel and Lebanon yesterday agreed to extend a ceasefire by three weeks, though some clashes between Israel and Hezbollah militants have continued, with each accusing the other of breaching the agreement.
—Dennis Romero, NBC news, 25 Apr. 2026
Giants ace Logan Webb hitting the Dodgers’ Dalton Rushing with a pitch, as well as Rushing’s subsequent hard slide into shortstop Willy Adames, pale in comparison to the clashes between San Francisco and Los Angeles in the past.
—Justice Delos Santos, Mercury News, 24 Apr. 2026
The petition accused Burke of failing to act during the operation, outlining numerous clashes between agents and civilians throughout the fall, most seriously, the killing of Silverio Villegas González in September and the wounding of Marimar Martínez in October.
—Madeline Buckley, Chicago Tribune, 24 Apr. 2026
Bieber has had clashes with the paparazzi, and has sent ambiguous messages over social media hinting at his sorrow.
—Vinson Cunningham, New Yorker, 18 Apr. 2026
Katie Campione, Deadline, 23 Apr. 2026
For instance, as the moon clashes with Saturn, Mars and Mercury in Aries, tempers could flare internally or with those around you.
—Valerie Mesa, PEOPLE, 22 Apr. 2026
A little indulgence won’t hurt as the moon clashes with Jupiter.
—Usa Today, USA Today, 2 Apr. 2026
In the rapidly evolving world of denim manufacturing, the quest for sustainability often clashes with the demand for authentic, high-quality aesthetics.
—Sj Studio, Sourcing Journal, 8 Jan. 2026
At Tender, Whitney clashes with his more hedonistic co-founder Jonah (Kal Penn) and bosses around his assistant Haley (Kiernan Shipka).
—Alison Herman, Variety, 6 Jan. 2026
That statement clashes with the First Amendment, where decades of case law have maintained that students do not shed their free expression rights when on campus.
—Cate Charron, IndyStar, 1 Dec. 2025
Played by Nick Cannon, Devon joins the marching band at Atlanta A&T University, where his confidence quickly clashes with his section leader’s discipline.
—Okla Jones, Essence, 16 Oct. 2025
Noun
Transportation future While most Coloradans want properly maintained roads, Restore Our Roads clashes with voters’ broader wishes, said Matt Frommer, transportation and land use policy manager for the Southwest Energy Efficiency Project, an environmental advocacy group.
—Bruce Finley, Denver Post, 27 Apr. 2026
Last year, clashes between farmers and herders in southwestern Chad left 42 people dead and several homes burned.
—ABC News, 27 Apr. 2026
The massive expansion of enforcement operations drew local resistance from activists, leading to clashes with federal agents and the deaths of residents Renee Good and Alex Pretti during confrontations with ICE and Border Patrol.
—Alex Derosier, Twin Cities, 26 Apr. 2026
City will have one eye on clinching the FA Cup trophy for the third time in eight years, while Arsenal’s Champions League semi-final clashes with Atletico Madrid will take plenty out of them physically and mentally.
—Mark Carey, New York Times, 25 Apr. 2026
Israel and Lebanon yesterday agreed to extend a ceasefire by three weeks, though some clashes between Israel and Hezbollah militants have continued, with each accusing the other of breaching the agreement.
—Dennis Romero, NBC news, 25 Apr. 2026
Giants ace Logan Webb hitting the Dodgers’ Dalton Rushing with a pitch, as well as Rushing’s subsequent hard slide into shortstop Willy Adames, pale in comparison to the clashes between San Francisco and Los Angeles in the past.
—Justice Delos Santos, Mercury News, 24 Apr. 2026
The petition accused Burke of failing to act during the operation, outlining numerous clashes between agents and civilians throughout the fall, most seriously, the killing of Silverio Villegas González in September and the wounding of Marimar Martínez in October.
—Madeline Buckley, Chicago Tribune, 24 Apr. 2026
Bieber has had clashes with the paparazzi, and has sent ambiguous messages over social media hinting at his sorrow.
—Vinson Cunningham, New Yorker, 18 Apr. 2026
Verb
Matty is a blustering, blue-collar Bostonian who sees himself as the unequivocal boss of the house and frequently clashes with his liberal niece Blaire, an outspoken college student who often finds herself at odds with her more traditional-minded relatives.
—Katie Campione, Deadline, 23 Apr. 2026
For instance, as the moon clashes with Saturn, Mars and Mercury in Aries, tempers could flare internally or with those around you.
—Valerie Mesa, PEOPLE, 22 Apr. 2026
A little indulgence won’t hurt as the moon clashes with Jupiter.
—Usa Today, USA Today, 2 Apr. 2026
In the rapidly evolving world of denim manufacturing, the quest for sustainability often clashes with the demand for authentic, high-quality aesthetics.
—Sj Studio, Sourcing Journal, 8 Jan. 2026
At Tender, Whitney clashes with his more hedonistic co-founder Jonah (Kal Penn) and bosses around his assistant Haley (Kiernan Shipka).
—Alison Herman, Variety, 6 Jan. 2026
That statement clashes with the First Amendment, where decades of case law have maintained that students do not shed their free expression rights when on campus.
—Cate Charron, IndyStar, 1 Dec. 2025
Played by Nick Cannon, Devon joins the marching band at Atlanta A&T University, where his confidence quickly clashes with his section leader’s discipline.
—Okla Jones, Essence, 16 Oct. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for clashes
Noun
-
The early skirmishes certainly appeared that way.—
Josh Gross,
Daily News,
8 Apr. 2026
-
The skirmishes are a preview for more campaigns later this year, when at least a half-dozen states will hold elections for utility regulators.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
6 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
The snakes can, however, lose their rattles or simply decide not to use them.—
Don Sweeney
April 21,
Sacbee.com,
21 Apr. 2026
-
Cunningham’s Fisher-Price pianos and decrepit drums are unmistakable, as is Ciani’s Buchla, which whooshes and rattles like a steam engine barreling down the tracks.—
Andrew Ryce,
Pitchfork,
9 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Intuitive Surgical also conflicts with our recent initiation of Johnson & Johnson, which is seeking to enter the robotic surgery market.—
Paulina Likos,
CNBC,
17 Apr. 2026
-
The immediate gratification demanded by right-wing influencers inevitably conflicts with the level of behind-the-scenes preparation required to bring even the most slapdash case in court.—
Quinta Jurecic,
The Atlantic,
13 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
Police also allegedly received numerous reports of fights and disturbances in different areas of the Jennings Beach grounds and parking lots.—
Stephen Underwood,
Hartford Courant,
25 Apr. 2026
-
But fights are just as integral to the Netflix show created by Lee Sung Jin, and the series’ sound team needed to do even more meticulous work building visceral senses of anger, stress, and dread that slowly swallow up the characters and steer them into making a compounding set of poor decisions.—
Sarah Shachat,
IndieWire,
24 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
After a few short rings, a bubbly introduction greeted me.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
27 Apr. 2026
-
Leaving the liner hanging on the shower rod and curtain rings, spray the solution generously all over the shower curtain liner.—
Karen Brewer Grossman,
Southern Living,
27 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
And yet my instinct to recoil at this all collides with a harder reality.—
Catherine Thorbecke,
Twin Cities,
25 Apr. 2026
-
The business model underpinning kids and family animation is under growing strain, as a post-streaming contraction collides with declining linear viewership and tighter commissioning, a panel at Spain’s Quirino Future Lab session underscored on Wednesday.—
Callum McLennan,
Variety,
17 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
That means the knock-down, drag-out government shutdown battles that have become a Washington ritual are, in effect, a fight over a little more than a quarter of the federal ledger.—
Nick Lichtenberg,
Fortune,
28 Apr. 2026
-
Marr's legal battles with State Farm started in 1999, when Marr says the insurer denied a claim that a friend filed for tornado damage.—
Michael Copley,
NPR,
28 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
In Guyana’s capital city of Georgetown, neighbors can still hear the thumps.—
Tyler Jett,
Des Moines Register,
21 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Clashes.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/clashes. Accessed 1 May. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
