1
as in strife
a lack of agreement or harmony
the conflict between absolute freedom and personal responsibility
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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
Robert F. Worth, The Atlantic, 8 Apr. 2025
When the levy breaks Fears that the global trade conflict will cause a recession are hitting markets beyond stocks.
—Jacob Pramuk, CNBC, 7 Apr. 2025
arkansasonline.com, 14 Mar. 2025
Research yields conflicting results as to whether creatine increases anabolic hormones.
—Melissa Nieves, Verywell Health, 13 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for conflict
Noun
The Houthis claim to have destroyed 17 Reaper drones since the Red Sea conflict began, worth about $30 million each.
—Robert F. Worth, The Atlantic, 8 Apr. 2025
When the levy breaks Fears that the global trade conflict will cause a recession are hitting markets beyond stocks.
—Jacob Pramuk, CNBC, 7 Apr. 2025
Verb
There is also wide agreement that the argument conflicts with more than a century of Supreme Court precedent that protects citizenship for most everyone born on U.S. soil, except for the children of foreign diplomats.
—arkansasonline.com, 14 Mar. 2025
Research yields conflicting results as to whether creatine increases anabolic hormones.
—Melissa Nieves, Verywell Health, 13 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for conflict
Recent Examples of Synonyms for conflict
Noun
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Weiner’s take on the band novel was partially influenced by real-life musicians, the author says: The strife between members of Fleetwood Mac, which fueled their iconic songs.—
Carly Tagen-Dye,
People.com,
8 Apr. 2025
-
All of the women in this show have seen so much strife, but this baby was born in hell.—
Amanda Whiting,
Vulture,
8 Apr. 2025
Noun
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Since then, while tallies have fluctuated, the average has been around 180 clashes per day, an increase of about 30%.—
Andrew Carey and Kosta Gak,
CNN Money,
9 Apr. 2025
-
Real-Life Vince McMahon Confrontation The Undertaker vs. Bray Wyatt The WrestleMania 31 match between The Undertaker and Bray Wyatt, a clash of dark characters, was disappointing for several reasons.—
Gordon G. Chang,
MSNBC Newsweek,
8 Apr. 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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What has endured and evolved, however, is a fierce rivalry in an event that is now huge business, watched by up to 250,000 in person, millions more on television (the races are being screened live on BBC One) and sponsored by French luxury brand Chanel, no less.—
Tim Spiers,
New York Times,
12 Apr. 2025
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While known for his exceptional mic skills, Punk also consistently delivered in-ring performances, with his rivalry against John Cena and Rey Mysterio producing some of his most iconic bouts.—
David Faris,
MSNBC Newsweek,
11 Apr. 2025
Verb
-
At the microscopic level, fluids are composed of particles—little billiard balls bopping around and occasionally colliding—and Newton’s laws of motion work well to describe their trajectories.—
Jack Murtagh,
Scientific American,
14 Apr. 2025
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That happened two days after an American Airlines jet and an Army helicopter collided in midair in Washington — the deadliest U.S. air disaster in a generation.—
Michael R. Sisak,
Los Angeles Times,
10 Apr. 2025
Noun
-
There's no discord between he and I, which is great.—
Rachel McRady,
People.com,
7 Apr. 2025
-
Today, that might show up as withdrawing at the slightest hint of discord.—
Carolyn L. Todd,
SELF,
4 Apr. 2025
Noun
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However the trade saga develops from here, the first skirmishes in a trade war, a dreaded relic of the Great Depression, have begun in the 21st century.—
Jeff Sommer,
New York Times,
11 Apr. 2025
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After all, listening is a great tool for influencing people, navigating conflict, and soothing relationship skirmishes.—
Aditi Shrikant,
CNBC,
23 Mar. 2025
Noun
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The governing Liberals had appeared poised for a historic election defeat this year until Trump declared a trade war and challenged Canada’s sovereignty.—
Rob Gillies,
Los Angeles Times,
29 Mar. 2025
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But war and instability raged across swathes of the nation, especially in rural areas.—
Sophia Saifi,
CNN Money,
28 Mar. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Conflict.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/conflict. Accessed 22 Apr. 2025.
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