conflict 1 of 2

noun

ˈkän-ˌflikt How to pronounce conflict (audio)
Definition of conflictnext
1
as in strife
a lack of agreement or harmony the conflict between absolute freedom and personal responsibility

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2
as in clash
a physical dispute between opposing individuals or groups an armed conflict between strikers and strikebreakers

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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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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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conflict

2 of 2

verb

kən-ˈflikt How to pronounce conflict (audio)
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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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
His departure followed reports that surfaced surrounding scheduling conflicts and production issues in 2023. — Brenton Blanchet, PEOPLE, 30 June 2026 Maintaining psychological safety is a priority in any conflict resolution process. — Forbestv, Forbes.com, 30 June 2026
Verb
Jackson, in her dissent, agreed, and said the majority misunderstood FIFRA's requirements, saying adding a cancer warning doesn't conflict with the law. — Carrie Johnson, NPR, 25 June 2026 Under new head coach Herbert, Canada Basketball has insisted that players be available to the team, if not necessarily to play, during windows that do not conflict with the NBA season. — Eric Koreen, New York Times, 4 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for conflict
Recent Examples of Synonyms for conflict
  1. strife
  2. clash
  3. hostilities
  4. rivalry
  5. collide
  6. discord
  7. skirmish
  8. war
Noun
  • When her parents — the wonderful June Diane Raphael and Tom Everett Scott — fall into professional reputational strife, the family is forced to relocate to Seattle to rebuild their lives.
    — Scarlett Harris, IndieWire, 6 July 2026
  • But labor strife here is spilling off of the docks and into City Hall, with political implications for Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson, himself a former labor organizer who is expected to run for reelection in less than a year.
    — Talia Soglin, Chicago Tribune, 5 July 2026
Definition of strife
Noun
  • With Brazil’s upcoming clash with Norway providing another physical challenge in the blistering New Jersey heat, is Casemiro a help or hindrance to his team?
    — Mark Carey, New York Times, 6 July 2026
  • Your 3rd House of Communication tightens as the vibrant Sun activates it and clashes with restrictive Saturn in your 12th House of Solitude.
    — Tarot.com, Baltimore Sun, 6 July 2026
Definition of clash
Noun
  • Breaches are common and have been used strategically to set a standard, tit-for-tat style, of acceptable lower-level hostilities during the sensitive period.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 1 July 2026
  • The recent military action tested an initial agreement that was supposed to halt hostilities during 60 days of negotiations.
    — Xiaoqian Lin, CNN Money, 29 June 2026
Definition of hostilities
Noun
  • The Pride and Angel City have established a fierce rivalry in their short history.
    — Orlando Sentinel Staff, The Orlando Sentinel, 4 July 2026
  • Spain and Portugal renew their historic rivalry, with Lamine Yamal and Cristiano Ronaldo in contrasting lights.
    — Steven Louis Goldstein, New York Times, 4 July 2026
Definition of rivalry
Verb
  • Video showed Quansah’s studs colliding with Gallardo’s calf and the referee issued Quansah a red card that delighted the crowd as England’s lineup was reduced to 10 men.
    — Eduard Cauich, Los Angeles Times, 6 July 2026
  • Mexican keeper Raúl Rangel charged out and collided with Gordon and was immediately whistled for a penalty.
    — Hannah Keyser, CNN Money, 5 July 2026
Definition of collide
Noun
  • But the discord between the two leaders stretches far beyond disagreements over the conflict in the Middle East.
    — Tiago Ventura, Time, 24 June 2026
  • Despite the discord, the regime is likely to have the final say.
    — Tim Lister, CNN Money, 14 June 2026
Definition of discord
Noun
  • The skirmishes date back to shortly after Haaland’s arrival at Manchester City in July 2022.
    — Jack Lang, New York Times, 5 July 2026
  • Indiana Fever star Sophie Cunningham’s point toward Phoenix Mercury forward DeWanna Bonner amid a heated skirmish during their game has gone mega viral.
    — Ryan Gaydos, FOXNews.com, 5 July 2026
Definition of skirmish
Noun
  • Alnaji was part of a pro-Palestinian group protesting over the Israel-Hamas war in Gaza and Kessler was demonstrating in support of Israel, authorities have said.
    — Phil Helsel, NBC news, 2 July 2026
  • The war period saw its own moments of threats to rights, such as suspending habeas corpus, the legal mechanism to prevent arbitrary detention.
    — Chris Kenning, USA Today, 2 July 2026
Definition of war

Browse Nearby Words

conflations
conflict
conflicted
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Cite this Entry

“Conflict.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/conflict. Accessed 7 Jul. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on conflict

Nglish: Translation of conflict for Spanish Speakers

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about conflict

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