1
as in strife
a lack of agreement or harmony
the conflict between absolute freedom and personal responsibility
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in clash
a physical dispute between opposing individuals or groups
an armed conflict between strikers and strikebreakers
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in hostilities
a state of armed violent struggle between states, nations, or groups
the United Nations strives to prevent international conflicts
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
4
as in rivalry
an earnest effort for superiority or victory over another
the eternal conflict between the forces of good and evil
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in to clash
to be out of harmony or agreement usually noticeably
his statement conflicts with the facts, as given in the police report
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of conflict
Shelby Slade, AZCentral.com, 24 July 2025
The most recent conflict has had huge political ramifications in Thailand.
—Helen Regan, CNN Money, 24 July 2025
Michele Amabile Angermiller, HollywoodReporter, 18 July 2025
But some may feel that such policies may conflict with employees' religious beliefs, resulting in disciplinary action or job loss.
—Jordan King, MSNBC Newsweek, 16 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for conflict
Noun
Historically, the species roamed throughout much of the Southwest through central Mexico before being nearly eradicated from the wild by the 1970s, largely due to conflicts with the livestock industry.
—Shelby Slade, AZCentral.com, 24 July 2025
The most recent conflict has had huge political ramifications in Thailand.
—Helen Regan, CNN Money, 24 July 2025
Verb
Rare archival footage, home movies and candid interviews paint a fuller, more complicated picture of the Piano Man — brilliant, driven, combative, sometimes conflicted and ultimately enduring.
—Michele Amabile Angermiller, HollywoodReporter, 18 July 2025
But some may feel that such policies may conflict with employees' religious beliefs, resulting in disciplinary action or job loss.
—Jordan King, MSNBC Newsweek, 16 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for conflict
Recent Examples of Synonyms for conflict
Noun
-
In seeking reelection in 2022, Evers said the pandemic measures that divided the state were worth the strife.—
Molly Beck,
jsonline.com,
24 July 2025
-
Later, Hjorth’s sister published her own novelization of their family strife.—
The Atlantic Culture Desk,
The Atlantic,
23 July 2025
Noun
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Which is why policy analysts are scratching their heads about what exactly lies behind the escalating border clashes between Thailand and Cambodia.—
Charlie Campbell,
Time,
25 July 2025
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The Thai Health Ministry said 15 civilians and one soldier had been killed and 46 civilians and 15 soldiers wounded in the clashes since Thursday.—
Shane Croucher
John Feng,
MSNBC Newsweek,
25 July 2025
Noun
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These meetings initially took place virtually and then in person across different capitals, seeking a cessation of hostilities and the establishment of humanitarian corridors.—
Daniel R. Depetris,
MSNBC Newsweek,
10 Apr. 2025
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But Putin had other ideas, tying a halt in hostilities to the West readmitting certain Russian banks into the West’s financial network.—
Daniel DePetris,
Chicago Tribune,
8 Apr. 2025
Noun
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Trump's hardline trade stance, however, risks straining the delicate U.S.-India defense relationship, which has blossomed in recent years in a sign of India's geostrategic importance to the United States amid its rivalry with China.—
Amira El-Fekki,
MSNBC Newsweek,
31 July 2025
-
Due to their ensuing real-life and fictional rivalry to reach the top of the WWE pinnacle, there was still some bad blood between Punk and Triple H as the latter moved into an executive position.—
Skyler Trepel,
People.com,
30 July 2025
Verb
-
Good intentions collide with cultural norms going back to Hippocrates.—
Michael L. Millenson,
Forbes.com,
31 July 2025
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But several hours later their lives were shattered when a passenger plane and a Black Hawk helicopter collided over the Potomac River.—
Alexandra Skores,
CNN Money,
30 July 2025
Noun
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The policy, which aims to cut down on discretionary costs and was implemented in early July, sowed discord from both state police troopers and conference organizers, who have held the events annually without issues with Maryland troopers attending.—
Dan Belson,
Baltimore Sun,
29 July 2025
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Rocket Lab's emergence also comes at a time of mounting public discord between Musk and President Donald Trump.—
Eric Lagatta,
USA Today,
26 July 2025
Noun
-
This is the third bench-clearing skirmish for the Angels this season, though none has resulted in ejections.—
Sam Blum,
New York Times,
30 July 2025
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That’s right, the first camp skirmish pitted a pair of rookies, tackle Josh Simmons and interior defensive lineman Omarr Norman-Lott, with Simmons appearing to land a right-handed blow to Norman-Lott’s helmet.—
Blair Kerkhoff,
Kansas City Star,
29 July 2025
Noun
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The cumulative effect of crises on top of crises — from war, to daily explosions suspected to be sabotage, to skyrocketing inflation, to water and power cuts — has many Iranians reeling.—
Leily Nikounazar Arash Khamooshi,
New York Times,
26 July 2025
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Nearly 150 out of the 190 U.N. member states now do so, including several other European countries—Spain, Ireland and Norway—that have formally recognized Palestine since the start of the war between Israel and Hamas in October 2023.—
Callum Sutherland,
Time,
25 July 2025
Cite this Entry
“Conflict.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/conflict. Accessed 7 Aug. 2025.
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