conflict

conflict [kən flikt′; ] for n. [ kän′flikt΄]

vi.

[ME conflicten < L conflictus, pp. of confligere, to strike together < com-, together + fligere, to strike: see INFLICT]

1. Obs. to fight; battle; contend

2. to be antagonistic, incompatible, or contradictory; be in opposition; clash [ideas that conflict]

n.

1. a fight or struggle, esp. a protracted one; war

2. sharp disagreement or opposition, as of interests or ideas; clash

3. emotional disturbance resulting from a clash of opposing impulses or from an inability to reconcile impulses with realistic or moral considerations

4. Rare collision of moving bodies

confliction

n.

conflictive

adj.

SYN.- CONFLICT refers to a sharp disagreement or collision as in interests or ideas and emphasizes the process rather than the end [the conflict over slavery ]; FIGHT, a rather general word for any contest, struggle, or quarrel, stresses physical or hand-to-hand combat; STRUGGLE implies great effort or violent exertion, physical or otherwise [the struggle for existence ]; CONTENTION most frequently applies to heated verbal strife, or dispute [religious contention broke out ]; CONTEST refers to a struggle, either friendly or hostile, for supremacy in some matter [athletic contests, a contest of wits ] -ANT. ACCORD, HARMONY