noun Common

clash

KLASH

Clash (noun) means a loud, jarring sound made when hard objects strike together. Example: “There was a clash of cymbals at the climax of the song.”

noun

A loud, jarring sound made when hard objects strike together.

"There was a clash of cymbals at the climax of the song."

A serious disagreement, fight, or conflict between people or groups.

"The meeting ended in a clash between the two department heads."

"Border clashes broke out between the two countries."

verb

To disagree or fight, often heatedly.

"The siblings clashed constantly over the inheritance."

Of colours, patterns, or styles: to look bad together.

"That orange tie clashes horribly with his green shirt."

To happen at the same time, making it impossible to attend both.

"Unfortunately, the two concerts clash on the same evening."

How to use clash

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishA collision, disagreement, or mismatch — used for sounds, conflicts, colours, and clashing schedules alike.

Common pairings

clash of opinions colours that clash the two events clash a violent clash

Word forms

clashed past tense, clashes plural, clashes singular

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Can you complete this real example?

There was a _____ of cymbals at the climax of the song.

Etymology

Imitative (onomatopoeic) in origin, echoing the sound of a sudden collision — related to similar "clap/slap" words in Dutch and German.

Origin: German

Synonyms

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conflict collision confrontation disagreement altercation skirmish

Related words

war words battle impact fighting agreement screen conflict

Rhymes for clash

ash lash mash bash rash cash gash dash wash hash sash Tash

See all rhymes for clash →

Frequently asked questions

What does “clash” mean?

The word “clash” means a loud, jarring sound made when hard objects strike together. In plain terms, a collision, disagreement, or mismatch — used for sounds, conflicts, colours, and clashing schedules alike.

How do you pronounce “clash”?

“Clash” is pronounced KLASH (/ˈklæʃ/ in IPA).

How do you use “clash” in a sentence?

Here is “clash” used in a sentence: “There was a clash of cymbals at the climax of the song.”

What part of speech is “clash”?

Depending on how it is used, “clash” can be a noun and a verb.

Where does the word “clash” come from?

The word “clash” comes from German. Imitative (onomatopoeic) in origin, echoing the sound of a sudden collision — related to similar "clap/slap" words in Dutch and German.

Is “clash” a common word?

“Clash” is a fairly common word in modern English.

How many meanings does “clash” have?

“Clash” has 5 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a loud, jarring sound made when hard objects strike together.

What is the difference between a clash and a fight?

A 'clash' is a serious disagreement or conflict, which may be verbal, physical, or between opposing groups. A 'fight' usually implies direct physical or heated confrontation, whereas a clash can also describe conflicting ideas, schedules, or personalities.

What is the difference between things that 'clash' and things that 'match'?

When two things match, they go well together and look harmonious; when they clash, they look jarring side by side. The terms are opposites and are used most often of colours, patterns, and styles.

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Vocabulary lists that include clash:

Words with German origins Words that end with H

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