clashing
/klæʃ/ (bre, ipa) · [klˈæʃɪŋ] /klæʃ/ (ame, ipa) · [klˈæʃɪŋ] /ˈklash How to pronounce clash (audio)/ (ame, mw)
clashing — verb
- clashingpresent simple I / you / we / they
- clashings3rd person singular
- clashinging-ing form
- clashingedpast simple
1. arguing fiercely or confronting someone in an openly hostile way.
arguing fiercely or confronting someone in an openly hostile way.
Samir and his cousin were clashing over the shop budget again.
clashing over [issue] — repeated dispute
Two students kept clashing after the teacher changed the seating plan.
Union leaders were clashing with managers outside the factory gate.
The neighbors were clashing loudly about the barking dog at midnight.
- quarrelling
often less intense and not always public
- fighting
broader and can refer to physical violence more directly
- feuding
usually longer-lasting than clashing
- cooperating
working together instead of opposing each other
文法句型
clashing with [person/group]
clashing over [issue]
用法筆記
Usually used for people or groups who are openly against each other. It suggests more intensity than a brief disagreement.
常見錯誤
2. pulling in opposite directions so that ideas, claims, or personal styles cannot
pulling in opposite directions so that ideas, claims, or personal styles cannot sit comfortably together.
Beatrix's calm style was clashing with the new coach's harsh rules.
clashing with [style/rules] — incompatible fit
The mayor's promise was clashing with the numbers in the report.
Their travel plans were clashing with Salma's exam week.
Old family values kept clashing with the couple's city life.
- conflicting
more formal and often used in writing
- contradicting
focuses on one claim saying the opposite of another
- mismatching
often used for appearance rather than principles or claims
- matching
fitting together well
文法句型
clashing with [idea/plan]
clashing over [principle]
用法筆記
This sense is common with ideas, promises, values, and personalities. It focuses on incompatibility rather than a physical fight.
常見錯誤
3. looking unpleasant together because the visual choices are too different or too
looking unpleasant together because the visual choices are too different or too strong.
The orange sofa was clashing with the pale blue wall.
clashing with [colour] — bad visual pairing
Salma laughed when her striped socks started clashing with the floral skirt.
Bright green tiles kept clashing with the warm wooden shelves.
The band's shiny jackets were clashing badly with the old theater curtains.
- mismatching
more neutral and less expressive
- competing
suggests the visual elements both demand attention
- blending
fitting together smoothly
文法句型
clashing with [colour/style]
badly clashing [design elements]
用法筆記
Use this sense when the problem is visual harmony. It is especially common for colours, prints, clothes, and room design.
常見錯誤
4. happening at overlapping times so that both things cannot be done conveniently.
happening at overlapping times so that both things cannot be done conveniently.
Antonia's dentist appointment is clashing with the parent meeting at noon.
clashing with [event] — schedule overlap
The school play kept clashing with Jason's evening football practice.
Two job interviews were clashing on the same rainy morning.
Our train time is clashing with the hotel check-in window.
- overlapping
describes time coincidence more neutrally
- colliding
more dramatic and less common for schedules
- fitting
working smoothly in the available time
文法句型
clashing with [event/time]
two things are clashing
用法筆記
This sense is about scheduling, not disagreement. It is common for meetings, appointments, classes, and travel times.
常見錯誤
5. striking together with a sharp ringing sound, especially when the objects are me
striking together with a sharp ringing sound, especially when the objects are metal.
Metal trays were clashing in the kitchen after the lunch rush.
metal objects were clashing — loud ringing sound
The loose chains kept clashing against the side of the truck.
During the dance, bronze cymbals were clashing behind the singers.
In the wind, the gate latch was clashing against the post.
- softening
becoming quieter or gentler
文法句型
clashing against [surface]
objects were clashing
用法筆記
This sense usually refers to repeated contact that produces a hard, ringing sound. It is strongly associated with metal.
6. meeting an opponent in a hard-fought sporting contest.
meeting an opponent in a hard-fought sporting contest.
Brazil and Japan are clashing in Seoul on Saturday night.
clashing in [location] — teams meeting in competition
Two local boxers were clashing for the title at the riverside arena.
Henry and Tariro will be clashing in the regional final on Friday.
The two clubs were clashing again before a sold-out crowd.
文法句型
clashing in [match/final]
clashing for [title]
用法筆記
This sense is common in sports reporting. It presents a match as an energetic contest, not just a scheduled meeting.
clashing — noun
1. a continuing period of quarrels or hostility between people or groups.
a continuing period of quarrels or hostility between people or groups.
Weeks of clashing between the brothers upset everyone at home.
clashing between [people] — prolonged disagreement
Constant clashing with the landlord pushed the family to move.
Years of clashing over water rights split the farming village.
Repeated clashing between the two office teams slowed every small decision.
- harmony
peaceful relations instead of hostility
文法句型
clashing between [people/groups]
clashing over [issue]
clashing with [person]
用法筆記
Usually uncountable in this sense. It describes an ongoing state, not one brief exchange.
常見錯誤
2. the strong meeting of unlike ideas, values, or visual elements that do not sit w
the strong meeting of unlike ideas, values, or visual elements that do not sit well together.
The film shows the clashing of old customs and new ambition.
clashing of [ideas/values] — incompatible forces
Their marriage suffered from constant clashing of values about money.
The hearing exposed the clashing of safety rules and business goals.
The room's beauty came from the clashing of silk, denim, and brass.
- agreement
ideas or elements working together smoothly
文法句型
clashing of [ideas/values/styles]
constant clashing of [elements]
用法筆記
This sense can refer to opinions and values, but also to styles and materials. The key idea is sharp incompatibility or contrast.
3. a sharp ringing noise made when hard objects strike each other, especially metal
a sharp ringing noise made when hard objects strike each other, especially metal ones.
The sudden clashing of pans woke the baby upstairs.
the clashing of [metal objects] — sudden impact sound
We heard the clashing of swords from the stage behind us.
A sharp clashing came from the fallen bike near the gate.
The guard followed the clashing of chains into the dark hall.
文法句型
the clashing of [metal objects]
a sharp clashing
用法筆記
This sense names the sound itself rather than the action. It is especially natural with pans, swords, chains, and similar hard objects.