clashing
clashing is the present participle and gerund of clash.
Adjective
clashing (comparative more clashing, superlative most clashing)
- conflicting, contrasting, or contrary; inconsonant, incompatible, or irreconcilable
- mismatched, inharmonious, discordant or dissonant, not fitting well together (especially in regards to aesthetics, colors, clothing, or sounds)
- adverse or antagonistic; disagreeing or opposing
- Producing a clash or series of clashes.
- From inside the mill there came a whizzing, whirring, and clashing sound, and now and then a bright saw-blade flashed in the air, as if in combat with the spirits of the night, to cut the stumps and uneven ends off the logs.1886, Peter Christen Asbjørnsen, translated by H.L. Brækstad, Folk and Fairy Tales, page 154
Meaning of clash
Verb
clash (third-person singular simple present clashes, present participle clashing, simple past and past participle clashed)
- To make a clashing sound.
- The cymbals clashed.
- To cause to make a clashing sound.
- Thorfinn clashed his shield against Vallon's and swung his axe to hook Vallon's ankle.2012, Robert Lyndon, Hawk Quest
- To come into violent conflict.
- Fans from opposing teams clashed on the streets after the game.
- Synonyms:
- collide
- To argue angrily.
- My parents often clashed about minor things, such as the cleaning or shopping rota.
- To face each other in an important game.
- The veteran American legend claims he and Welsh two-weight world champion Calzaghe will clash on 20 September, probably at The MGM Grand in Las Vegas.2008 June 27, “Jones confirms Calzaghe showdown”, in BBC Sport
- To fail to look good together; to contrast unattractively; to fail to harmonize.
- You can't wear that shirt! It clashes with your trousers.
Noun
clashing (plural clashings)
- A clash; the sound or action of clashing; violent collision.
Forms of clashing
| Noun | |
|---|---|
| plural | clashings |
| Adjective | |
| comparative | more clashing |
| superlative | most clashing |
Words formed from clashing
Questions about clashing
- What does clashing mean?
- Clashing means a clash; the sound or action of clashing; violent collision.
- What is clashing the present participle and gerund of?
- Clashing is the present participle and gerund of clash.
- What part of speech is clashing?
- Clashing can be a noun or an adjective.
- What is the plural of clashing?
- The plural of clashing is clashings.
Words near clashing in the dictionary
Source and license
Adapted from Wiktionary: clashing (page history and authors); clash (page history and authors). Text available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 license. Word.ws reformatted the entry and added links. Wiktionary data of 2026-09-02.
Last updated:
Cite this entry: “clashing.” Word.ws, https://word.ws/clashing. Based on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.