con·flict (k n fl kt )n.1. A state of open, often prolonged fighting; a battle or war. 2. A state of disharmony between incompatible or antithetical persons, ideas, or interests; a clash. 3. Psychology A psychic struggle, often unconscious, resulting from the opposition or simultaneous functioning of mutually exclusive impulses, desires, or tendencies. 4. Opposition between characters or forces in a work of drama or fiction, especially opposition that motivates or shapes the action of the plot. intr.v. (k n-fl kt ) con·flict·ed, con·flict·ing, con·flicts 1. To be in or come into opposition; differ. 2. Archaic To engage in warfare.
[Middle English, from Latin c nfl ctus, collision, from past participle of c nfl gere, to strike together : com-, com- + fl gere, to strike.]
con·flic tion n. con·flic tive adj. con·flic tu·al (k n-fl k ch - l) adj. Synonyms: conflict, contest, combat, fight These nouns denote struggle between opposing forces for victory or supremacy. Conflict applies both to open fighting between hostile groups and to a struggle between antithetical forces: "The kind of victory MacArthur had in mind . . . victory by expanding the conflict to all of China would have been the wrong kind of victory" Harry S. Truman. "Fortunately analysis is not the only way to resolve inner conflicts" Karen Horney. Contest can refer either to friendly competition or to a hostile struggle to achieve an objective: a spelling contest; the gubernatorial contest. Combat most commonly implies an encounter between two armed persons or groups: "Alexander had appeared to him, armed for combat" Connop Thirlwall. Fight usually refers to a clash involving individual adversaries: A fight was scheduled between the world boxing champion and the challenger. "There is nothing I love as much as a good fight" Franklin D. Roosevelt. See Also Synonyms at discord. |
conflict Noun 1. opposition between ideas or interests 2. a struggle or battle Verb to be incompatible [Latin confligere to combat] conflicting adj Conflictan opponent in any kind of contest or conflict. Also called antipathist. Rare. an antagonist. an attitude of antagonism or aversion. the act of threatening, especially revenge or punishment. a refusal to obey; defiance. 1. a person engaged in a duel. 2. a person skilled at dueling. a person who participates in a feud or other conflict. the state of being an insurgent or rebel; the activities of insurgents or rebels. a revolt of peasants against the social classes above them. single combat; a duel. — monomachist, n. the state or position of being impartial or not allied with or committed to any party or viewpoint in a conflict, especially a war or armed conflict, — neutral, n., adj. 1. the state or quality of being an opponent. 2. an act or instance of opposing. 1. the state or quality of being an antagonist. 2. an act or instance of antagonism. — oppugnant, adj. Rare. the act or process of appeasing. 1. rebels collectively or as a group. 2. an area or region held by rebels. battle with shadows or imaginary enemies. a skirmish or other minor conflict.
ThesaurusLegend: Synonyms Related Words Antonyms | Noun | 1. | conflict - an open clash between two opposing groups (or individuals); "the harder the conflict the more glorious the triumph"--Thomas Paine; "police tried to control the battle between the pro- and anti-abortion mobs"strife - bitter conflict; heated often violent dissension tug-of-war - any hard struggle between equally matched groups turf war - a bitter struggle for territory or power or control or rights; "a turf war erupted between street gangs"; "the president's resignation was the result of a turf war with the board of directors" fighting, combat, fight, scrap - the act of fighting; any contest or struggle; "a fight broke out at the hockey game"; "there was fighting in the streets"; "the unhappy couple got into a terrible scrap" feud - a bitter quarrel between two parties warfare, war - an active struggle between competing entities; "a price war"; "a war of wits"; "diplomatic warfare" | | 2. | conflict - opposition between two simultaneous but incompatible feelings; "he was immobilized by conflict and indecision" | | 3. | conflict - a hostile meeting of opposing military forces in the course of a war; "Grant won a decisive victory in the battle of Chickamauga"; "he lost his romantic ideas about war when he got into a real engagement"Armageddon - any catastrophically destructive battle; "they called the first World War an Armageddon" pitched battle - a fierce battle fought in close combat between troops in predetermined positions at a chosen time and place war, warfare - the waging of armed conflict against an enemy; "thousands of people were killed in the war" dogfight - an aerial engagement between fighter planes assault - close fighting during the culmination of a military attack | | 4. | conflict - a state of opposition between persons or ideas or interests; "his conflict of interest made him ineligible for the post"; "a conflict of loyalties"state - the way something is with respect to its main attributes; "the current state of knowledge"; "his state of health"; "in a weak financial state" clash - a state of conflict between colors; "her dress was a disturbing clash of colors" | | 5. | conflict - an incompatibility of dates or events; "he noticed a conflict in the dates of the two meetings"incompatibility - the quality of being unable to exist or work in congenial combination | | 6. | conflict - opposition in a work of drama or fiction between characters or forces (especially an opposition that motivates the development of the plot); "this form of conflict is essential to Mann's writing" | | 7. | conflict - a disagreement or argument about something important; "he had a dispute with his wife"; "there were irreconcilable differences"; "the familiar conflict between Republicans and Democrats"disagreement - the speech act of disagreeing or arguing or disputing collision - a conflict of opposed ideas or attitudes or goals; "a collision of interests" gap - a difference (especially an unfortunate difference) between two opinions or two views or two situations | | Verb | 1. | conflict - be in conflict; "The two proposals conflict!"counterpoint, contrast - to show differences when compared; be different; "the students contrast considerably in their artistic abilities" collide, jar, clash - be incompatible; be or come into conflict; "These colors clash" | | 2. | conflict - go against, as of rules and laws; "He ran afoul of the law"; "This behavior conflicts with our rules" |
conflict noun 1. dispute, difference, opposition, hostility, disagreement, friction, strife, fighting, antagonism, variance, discord, bad blood, dissension, divided loyalties << OPPOSITE agreement noun 3. battle, war, fight, clash, contest, set-to ( informal) encounter, combat, engagement, warfare, collision, contention, strife, head-to-head, fracas, boilover Austral. << OPPOSITE peace
An armed struggle or clash between organized groups within a nation or between nations in order to achieve limited political or military objectives. Although regular forces are often involved, irregular forces frequently predominate. Conflict often is protracted, confined to a restricted geographic area, and constrained in weaponry and level of violence. Within this state, military power in response to threats may be exercised in an indirect manner while supportive of other instruments of national power. Limited objectives may be achieved by the short, focused, and direct application of force.
Translations
|
|