as in conflicting
not being in agreement or harmony
freedom and equality are often a clashing set of ideals
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in colliding
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
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of clashing
Jan Camenzind Broomby, NPR, 2 Sep. 2025
Advertisement These questions, coupled with the clashing advice from federal agencies and medical groups, will likely fuel a decline in vaccination rates, says Schaffner.
—Dominique Mosbergen, Time, 28 Aug. 2025
Sabrina Impacciatore and Domhnall Gleeson play clashing newsroom editors on The Paper, Peacock's upcoming comedy set in the same universe as the 2005 cult sitcom The Office.
—EW.com, 26 Aug. 2025
Bold, sometimes clashing prints, electric colors, and sculptural shoulder pads all appeared on the runways — reworked into fresh, wearable takes that made the decade’s more over-the-top elements feel exciting again.
—Jalil Johnson, Refinery29, 13 Aug. 2025
Lex Harvey, CNN Money, 10 Sep. 2025
While Jones and Robinson are fine in the leads — Robinson particularly nails Charlie’s ever-evolving combination of sweet and prickly — they aren’t given the space to relax into their chemistry, let alone to show us who these characters are beyond two sets of clashing personality traits.
—Angie Han, HollywoodReporter, 4 Sep. 2025
Dixie will raise the temperature clashing with Blythe Hart (Jessica Capshaw), the wife of Nashville Fire Capt.
—Bryan Alexander, USA Today, 3 Sep. 2025
The Iraqi prime minister at the time, Nuri al-Maliki, was a Shiite sectarian with close ties to Iran, and many of his fellow Shia thought he could be relied on to listen to Iran’s wishes and find a way to avoid clashing with an Iranian proxy militia.
—Graeme Wood, The Atlantic, 2 Sep. 2025
Do keep in mind, though, that with Mars also clashing with Pluto on the same day, there is a need for courage and integrity, as shake-ups are inevitable.
—Valerie Mesa, People.com, 1 Sep. 2025
Anadolu via Getty Images Indonesian shares slumped and the rupiah weakened as anti-government protests in Jakarta intensified, with thousands of workers demanding higher wages and lower taxes clashing with the police near the parliament building.
—Ardian Wibisono, Forbes.com, 29 Aug. 2025
The confusion stems from shifting federal vaccine recommendations, clashing guidance from medical groups, and the uncertainty of how doctors, pharmacies, insurance companies, and everyday people will navigate it all.
—Dominique Mosbergen, Time, 28 Aug. 2025
Former Most Precious Blood parishioners said the fracture within the church since Ciucci was installed four years ago — in part because of more progressive Catholics clashing with a traditionalist priest — represents a microcosm of what’s happening within the local archdiocese.
—Elizabeth Hernandez, Denver Post, 22 Aug. 2025
Adjective
In northern Taipei, the Taiwanese capital, the island's National Revolutionary Martyrs' Shrine is a reminder of these clashing historical narratives.
—Jan Camenzind Broomby, NPR, 2 Sep. 2025
Advertisement These questions, coupled with the clashing advice from federal agencies and medical groups, will likely fuel a decline in vaccination rates, says Schaffner.
—Dominique Mosbergen, Time, 28 Aug. 2025
Sabrina Impacciatore and Domhnall Gleeson play clashing newsroom editors on The Paper, Peacock's upcoming comedy set in the same universe as the 2005 cult sitcom The Office.
—EW.com, 26 Aug. 2025
Bold, sometimes clashing prints, electric colors, and sculptural shoulder pads all appeared on the runways — reworked into fresh, wearable takes that made the decade’s more over-the-top elements feel exciting again.
—Jalil Johnson, Refinery29, 13 Aug. 2025
Verb
But the protests quickly spiraled out of control when some of the protesters surged towards the parliament building and began climbing up the gate, clashing with police.
—Lex Harvey, CNN Money, 10 Sep. 2025
While Jones and Robinson are fine in the leads — Robinson particularly nails Charlie’s ever-evolving combination of sweet and prickly — they aren’t given the space to relax into their chemistry, let alone to show us who these characters are beyond two sets of clashing personality traits.
—Angie Han, HollywoodReporter, 4 Sep. 2025
Dixie will raise the temperature clashing with Blythe Hart (Jessica Capshaw), the wife of Nashville Fire Capt.
—Bryan Alexander, USA Today, 3 Sep. 2025
The Iraqi prime minister at the time, Nuri al-Maliki, was a Shiite sectarian with close ties to Iran, and many of his fellow Shia thought he could be relied on to listen to Iran’s wishes and find a way to avoid clashing with an Iranian proxy militia.
—Graeme Wood, The Atlantic, 2 Sep. 2025
Do keep in mind, though, that with Mars also clashing with Pluto on the same day, there is a need for courage and integrity, as shake-ups are inevitable.
—Valerie Mesa, People.com, 1 Sep. 2025
Anadolu via Getty Images Indonesian shares slumped and the rupiah weakened as anti-government protests in Jakarta intensified, with thousands of workers demanding higher wages and lower taxes clashing with the police near the parliament building.
—Ardian Wibisono, Forbes.com, 29 Aug. 2025
The confusion stems from shifting federal vaccine recommendations, clashing guidance from medical groups, and the uncertainty of how doctors, pharmacies, insurance companies, and everyday people will navigate it all.
—Dominique Mosbergen, Time, 28 Aug. 2025
Former Most Precious Blood parishioners said the fracture within the church since Ciucci was installed four years ago — in part because of more progressive Catholics clashing with a traditionalist priest — represents a microcosm of what’s happening within the local archdiocese.
—Elizabeth Hernandez, Denver Post, 22 Aug. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for clashing
Adjective
-
In 2015, the FDA issued a tepid notice about the risks of using acetaminophen during pregnancy, mentioning conflicting results about a possible link to ADHD but nothing about autism.—
Tom Bartlett,
The Atlantic,
9 Sep. 2025
-
Analysts say the producer price index and the consumer price index appeared to show conflicting signals in July about inflation.—
Susan Tompor,
USA Today,
9 Sep. 2025
Verb
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Entrepreneurs Need Healthy Discourse to Thrive Entrepreneurship thrives on ideas colliding.—
Sarah Hernholm,
Forbes.com,
15 Sep. 2025
-
The play showed Patterson colliding directly with Sellers just as the sophomore signal caller released the ball.—
Ira Gorawara,
New York Times,
14 Sep. 2025
Adjective
-
Oliver Glasner cannot be accused of giving out inconsistent messages.—
Matt Woosnam,
New York Times,
15 Sep. 2025
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Fairlead Strategies or its affiliates may have positions in financial instruments mentioned, may have acquired such positions at prices no longer available, and may have interests different from or adverse to your interests or inconsistent with the advice herein.—
Katie Stockton,
CNBC,
15 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Clashing.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/clashing. Accessed 17 Sep. 2025.
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