Definition

1. Noun:

   • A minor short-term fight or conflict: A clash can refer to a brief, often violent, confrontation between people or groups.
   • A state of conflict or disharmony: This can describe a serious disagreement between people or a jarring combination, especially of colors or ideas.
   • A loud, resonant, repeating noise: A clash is a loud, metallic sound, like that of objects striking together.

2. Verb:

   • To disagree violently or come into conflict: To clash means to have a serious argument or fight, or for events to occur at the same inconvenient time.
   • To be incompatible or not match: Often used for colors or designs that do not look good together.
   • To crash together with violent impact: To collide or strike against something with force, producing a loud noise.

Usage Examples

• Noun:

  • There was a brief clash between the protesters and the police. (A minor short-term fight)
  • The room's decor was a terrible clash of patterns. (A state of conflict between designs)
  • The clash of cymbals signaled the start of the show. (A loud resonant noise)

• Verb:

  • The two leaders clashed over foreign policy. (Disagreed violently)
  • The red carpet and the purple curtains clash horribly. (Are incompatible colors)
  • The swords clashed loudly during the duel. (Crashed together with violent impact)

Advanced Usage

• "to clash with": To be in conflict or competition with something; to not be suitable with something else.

  • His appointment clashes with my meeting, so I can't attend. (Occurs at the same inconvenient time)
  • Her assertive personality sometimes clashes with the team's collaborative culture. (Is in conflict with)

• "a clash of cultures/titans": A significant conflict between different ways of life or between very powerful people/entities.

  • Moving to a new country often involves a clash of cultures. (Conflict between different social customs)
  • The debate was a clash of titans between the two most famous scientists. (Conflict between extremely powerful figures)

Variants and Related Words

• Clashing (adj): Being in conflict or not matching.
  • They have clashing opinions on the matter. (Conflicting opinions)
• Clanger (n, informal): A noticeable mistake, especially an embarrassing one. (Related through the concept of a loud, jarring error).

Synonyms

• Noun: Conflict, confrontation, fight, discord, cacophony (for sound).
• Verb: Conflict, collide, disagree, fight, jar.

Related Phrasal Verbs

• Clash against/into: To collide with something forcefully.
  • In the dark, he clashed into the furniture. (Collided with the furniture)

Related Idioms

• "A clash of wills": A situation where two equally determined people or groups are in opposition.
  • The negotiation turned into a clash of wills, with neither side backing down. (A conflict of strong determination)

Noun

1. a minor short-term fight
2. a state of conflict between colors
   • her dress was a disturbing clash of colors
3. a state of conflict between persons
4. a loud resonant repeating noise
   • he could hear the clang of distant bells

Verb

1. disagree violently
   • We clashed over the new farm policies
2. be incompatible; be or come into conflict
   • These colors clash
3. crash together with violent impact
   • The cars collided
   • Two meteors clashed