conflict
Americanverb (used without object)
noun
-
a fight, battle, or struggle, especially a prolonged struggle; strife.
-
controversy; quarrel.
conflicts between parties.
- Antonyms:
- accord
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discord of action, feeling, or effect; antagonism or opposition, as of interests or principles.
a conflict of ideas.
- Synonyms:
- opposition, contention
-
a striking together; collision.
-
incompatibility or interference, as of one idea, desire, event, or activity with another.
a conflict in the schedule.
-
Psychiatry. a mental struggle arising from opposing demands or impulses.
noun
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a struggle or clash between opposing forces; battle
-
a state of opposition between ideas, interests, etc; disagreement or controversy
-
a clash, as between two appointments made for the same time
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psychol opposition between two simultaneous but incompatible wishes or drives, sometimes leading to a state of emotional tension and thought to be responsible for neuroses
verb
-
to come into opposition; clash
-
to fight
Synonym Usage
See fight.
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
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preconflictnoun
-
nonconflictiveadjective
-
unconflictiveadjective
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conflictionnoun
-
conflictoryadjective
-
conflictiveadjective
-
self-conflictnoun
-
preconflictverb (used without object)
Conjugated Forms
Present
-
has conflictedperfect 3rd person singular
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have conflictedperfect
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is conflictingprogressive 3rd person singular
-
has been conflictingperfect progressive 3rd person singular
-
are conflictingprogressive
-
have been conflictingperfect progressive
-
conflictingparticiple
-
am conflictingprogressive 1st person singular
-
conflictssingular 3rd person
Past
-
had conflictedperfect
-
was conflictingprogressive singular
-
were conflictingprogressive plural
-
had been conflictingperfect progressive
-
conflictedsimple
-
conflictedparticiple
Future
Etymology
Origin of conflict
First recorded in 1375–1425; late Middle English (noun), from Latin conflīctus “a striking together,” equivalent to conflīg(ere) “to strike together, contend” ( con- con- + flīgere “to strike”) + -tus suffix of verb action; (verb) from Latin conflīctus, past participle of conflīgere, or by verb use of the noun
Explanation
A conflict is a struggle or an opposition. If you and your best friend both fall in love with the same person, you will have to find some way to resolve the conflict. Conflict comes from the Latin word for striking, but it isn't always violent. Conflict can arise from opposing ideas. If you want to turn your empty lot into a community garden but your wife envisions a shooting range, you have a conflict. If you're torn between two different desires, you're conflicted. Conflict can also be a verb. If you schedule a dentist appointment that conflicts with a meeting, you'll have to cancel one of them.
Vocabulary lists containing conflict
TEKS ELAR Academic Vocabulary List (5th-7th grades)
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List 7
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Essential Literary Terms
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
The strikes are the deadliest in weeks and follow a period of relative calm at the border after conflict between the two countries erupted in late February.
From Barron's • Jun. 10, 2026
The ongoing conflict, which is in its fourth month, has left a mark on the global and domestic economy.
From Los Angeles Times • Jun. 10, 2026
China’s factory-gate inflation accelerated in May as the ongoing conflict in the Middle East continued to drive up energy and commodity costs.
From The Wall Street Journal • Jun. 10, 2026
Lebanon's health ministry says at least 3,696 people have been killed there during the conflict, while Israeli authorities say 30 soldiers and four civilians have been killed on both sides of the border.
From BBC • Jun. 10, 2026
For millions of young Americans, and their families and friends, Vietnam was no longer a distant conflict.
From "Most Dangerous: Daniel Ellsberg and the Secret History of the Vietnam War" by Steve Sheinkin
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
