Clash vs. Crash
Edited by Huma Saeed || By Sawaira Riaz || Updated on September 30, 2023
Clash means to conflict or have a disagreement, while crash refers to a violent collision or the act of collapsing forcefully.
Key Differences
Clash and crash are two distinct words with different meanings and uses in the English language. Clash generally refers to a conflict, disagreement, or contradiction between two opposing forces, ideas, or individuals. It implies a confrontation or a state of opposition, often causing tension or disputes. For instance, a clash of opinions can occur during a heated debate.
Sawaira Riaz
Sep 30, 2023
In comparison, crash emphasizes the suddenness and forcefulness of the impact or collision. It is primarily associated with physical incidents causing damage or destruction but can also describe sudden failures or collapses in non-physical realms. The nature of a crash is usually abrupt, unexpected, and often involves a breakdown or a catastrophe.
Harlon Moss
Sep 30, 2023
While clash implies opposition or contradiction, often resulting in tension or disputes, crash implies a sudden, forceful impact or breakdown, leading to damage or destruction. Clash can be metaphorical or literal, highlighting conflicts or disagreements, whereas crash is more about physical collisions or abrupt failures.
Harlon Moss
Sep 30, 2023
In the concept of clash, the emphasis is more on the opposition or contradiction between entities, which could be physical or ideological. It often involves situations where differences are pronounced and noticeable, leading to disputes, confrontations, or battles. The clash can exist between varying ideologies, interests, or personalities, potentially causing disputes or conflicts.
Sawaira Riaz
Sep 30, 2023
Conversely, crash denotes a violent and sudden collision or impact, usually resulting in damage. It can refer to objects, vehicles, or systems experiencing a forceful and often destructive impact. A crash can be literal, such as a car crash, or metaphorical, representing a sudden failure or collapse, as in a system crash.
Sawaira Riaz
Sep 30, 2023
Comparison Chart
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Usage
Used to describe conflicts or disputes
Used to describe collisions or breakdowns
Sawaira Riaz
Sep 30, 2023
Clash and Crash Definitions
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Clash
A loud sound of metal objects colliding.
The clash of swords echoed through the battlefield.
Harlon Moss
Sep 30, 2023
Crash
A sudden failure or collapse.
The stock market crash led to financial turmoil.
Harlon Moss
Sep 30, 2023
Crash
A loud, abrupt sound.
The crash of the falling plates startled everyone.
Samantha Walker
Sep 30, 2023
Crash
To break violently or noisily; smash
The dishes crashed to pieces on the floor.
Sawaira Riaz
Mar 17, 2023
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Clash
To be in opposition or disagreement
An eyewitness account that clashed with published reports.
Sawaira Riaz
Mar 17, 2023
Crash
To undergo sudden damage or destruction on impact
The car crashed into a tree.
Sawaira Riaz
Mar 17, 2023
Clash
To create an unpleasant visual impression when placed together
Colors that clash.
Sawaira Riaz
Mar 17, 2023
Crash
To make a sudden loud noise
The cymbals crash at the end of each measure.
Sawaira Riaz
Mar 17, 2023
Crash
To move noisily or so as to cause damage
Went crashing through the woods.
Sawaira Riaz
Mar 17, 2023
Clash
A loud, harsh noise, such as that made by two metal objects in collision.
Sawaira Riaz
Mar 17, 2023
Crash
(Slang) To undergo a period of unpleasant feeling or depression as an aftereffect of drug-taking.
Sawaira Riaz
Mar 17, 2023
Clash
An incongruity or unpleasant juxtaposition of different colors or elements.
Sawaira Riaz
Mar 17, 2023
Clash
(onomatopoeia) A loud sound, like the crashing together of metal objects.
I heard a clash from the kitchen, and rushed in to find the cat had knocked over some pots and pans.
Sawaira Riaz
Mar 17, 2023
Clash
Opposition; contradiction; such as between differing or contending interests, views, purposes etc.
Clash of beliefs
Culture clash
Sawaira Riaz
Mar 17, 2023
Crash
A sudden loud noise, as of an object breaking
She looked up when she heard the crash outside.
Sawaira Riaz
Mar 17, 2023
Clash
A combination of garments that do not look good together, especially because of conflicting colours.
She was wearing a horrible clash of red and orange.
Sawaira Riaz
Mar 17, 2023
Clash
(hurling) An instance of restarting the game after a "dead ball", where it is dropped between two opposing players, who can fight for possession.
Sawaira Riaz
Mar 17, 2023
Crash
A sudden failure of a hard drive caused by damaging contact between the head and the storage surface, often resulting in the loss of data on the drive.
Sawaira Riaz
Mar 17, 2023
Crash
A sudden failure of a program or operating system, usually without serious consequences.
Sawaira Riaz
Mar 17, 2023
Clash
To come into violent conflict.
Fans from opposing teams clashed on the streets after the game.
Sawaira Riaz
Mar 17, 2023
Clash
(intransitive) To argue angrily.
My parents often clashed about minor things, such as the cleaning or shopping rota.
Sawaira Riaz
Mar 17, 2023
Crash
A coarse, light, unevenly woven fabric of cotton or linen, used for towels and curtains.
Sawaira Riaz
Mar 17, 2023
Crash
Starched reinforced fabric used to strengthen a book binding or the spine of a bound book.
Sawaira Riaz
Mar 17, 2023
Clash
To fail to look good together; to contrast unattractively; to fail to harmonize.
You can't wear that shirt! It clashes with your trousers.
The hotel room was ugly, and the wallpaper clashed with the carpet.
Sawaira Riaz
Mar 17, 2023
Crash
Of or characterized by an intensive effort to produce or accomplish
A crash course on income-tax preparation.
A crash diet.
Sawaira Riaz
Mar 17, 2023
Clash
To coincide, to happen at the same time, thereby rendering it impossible to attend all.
I can't come to your wedding because it clashes with a friend's funeral.
I wanted to take German, but it clashed with art on the timetable.
Sawaira Riaz
Mar 17, 2023
Crash
A sudden, intense, loud sound, as made for example by cymbals.
The piece ended in a crescendo, building up to a crash of cymbals.
After the lightning came the crash of thunder.
Sawaira Riaz
Mar 17, 2023
Crash
An automobile, airplane, or other vehicle accident.
She broke two bones in her body in a car crash.
Nobody survived the plane crash.
Sawaira Riaz
Mar 17, 2023
Clash
To make a noise by striking against something; to dash noisily together.
Sawaira Riaz
Mar 17, 2023
Crash
(computing) A malfunction of computer software or hardware which causes it to shut down or become partially or totally inoperable.
My computer had a crash so I had to reboot it.
Sawaira Riaz
Mar 17, 2023
Clash
To meet in opposition; to act in a contrary direction; to come onto collision; to interfere.
However some of his interests might clash with those of the chief adjacent colony.
Sawaira Riaz
Mar 17, 2023
Crash
(finance) A sudden large decline of business or the prices of stocks (especially one that causes additional failures).
The stock market crash
Sawaira Riaz
Mar 17, 2023
Clash
A loud noise resulting from collision; a noisy collision of bodies; a collision.
The roll of cannon and clash of arms.
Sawaira Riaz
Mar 17, 2023
Clash
Opposition; contradiction; as between differing or contending interests, views, purposes, etc.
Clashes between popes and kings.
Sawaira Riaz
Mar 17, 2023
Crash
(ecology) A sudden decline in any living form's population levels, often leading to extinction.
Sawaira Riaz
Mar 17, 2023
Clash
A loud resonant repeating noise;
He could hear the clang of distant bells
Sawaira Riaz
Mar 17, 2023
Clash
A state of conflict between colors;
Her dress was a disturbing clash of colors
Sawaira Riaz
Mar 17, 2023
Crash
(intransitive) To collide with something destructively, fall or come down violently.
When the car crashed into a house, the driver was heavily injured.
Sawaira Riaz
Mar 17, 2023
Crash
(transitive) To severely damage or destroy something by causing it to collide with something else.
I'm sorry for crashing the bike into a wall. I'll pay for repairs.
Sawaira Riaz
Mar 17, 2023
Clash
Crash together with violent impact;
The cars collided
Two meteors clashed
Sawaira Riaz
Mar 17, 2023
Crash
To accelerate a project or a task or its schedule by devoting more resources to it.
Sawaira Riaz
Mar 17, 2023
Crash
To make or experience informal temporary living arrangements, especially overnight.
Hey dude, can I crash at your pad?
Sawaira Riaz
Mar 17, 2023
Clash
A serious disagreement.
The clash between the two politicians was inevitable.
Sawaira Riaz
Sep 30, 2023
Crash
To lie down for a long rest, sleep or nap, as from tiredness or exhaustion.
Sawaira Riaz
Mar 17, 2023
Clash
A contradiction or incongruity.
There was a clash between her words and actions.
Samantha Walker
Sep 30, 2023
Crash
To terminate extraordinarily.
If the system crashes again, we'll have it fixed in the computer shop.
Sawaira Riaz
Mar 17, 2023
Crash
To cause to terminate extraordinarily.
Double-clicking this icon crashes the desktop.
Sawaira Riaz
Mar 17, 2023
Crash
(intransitive) To experience a period of depression and/or lethargy after a period of euphoria, as after the euphoric effect of a psychotropic drug has dissipated.
Sawaira Riaz
Mar 17, 2023
Crash
To take a sudden and severe turn for the worse; to rapidly deteriorate.
Sawaira Riaz
Mar 17, 2023
Crash
To break in pieces violently; to dash together with noise and violence.
He shakt his head, and crasht his teeth for ire.
Sawaira Riaz
Mar 17, 2023
Crash
To make a loud, clattering sound, as of many things falling and breaking at once; to break in pieces with a harsh noise.
Roofs were blazing and walls crashing in every part of the city.
Sawaira Riaz
Mar 17, 2023
Crash
To break with violence and noise; as, the chimney in falling crashed through the roof.
Sawaira Riaz
Mar 17, 2023
Crash
A loud, sudden, confused sound, as of many things falling and breaking at once.
The wreck of matter and the crash of worlds.
Sawaira Riaz
Mar 17, 2023
Crash
Ruin; failure; sudden breaking down, as of a business house or a commercial enterprise.
Sawaira Riaz
Mar 17, 2023
Crash
A loud resonant repeating noise;
He could hear the clang of distant bells
Sawaira Riaz
Mar 17, 2023
Crash
A serious accident (usually involving one or more vehicles);
They are still investigating the crash of the TWA plane
Sawaira Riaz
Mar 17, 2023
Crash
A sudden large decline of business or the prices of stocks (especially one that causes additional failures)
Sawaira Riaz
Mar 17, 2023
Crash
The act of colliding with something;
His crash through the window
The fullback's smash into the defensive line
Sawaira Riaz
Mar 17, 2023
Crash
(computer science) an event that causes a computer system to become inoperative;
The crash occurred during a thunderstorm and the system has been down ever since
Sawaira Riaz
Mar 17, 2023
Crash
Fall or come down violently;
The branch crashed down on my car
The plane crashed in the sea
Sawaira Riaz
Mar 17, 2023
Crash
Move with, or as if with, a crashing noise;
The car crashed through the glass door
Sawaira Riaz
Mar 17, 2023
Crash
Undergo damage or destruction on impact;
The plane crashed into the ocean
The car crashed into the lamp post
Sawaira Riaz
Mar 17, 2023
Crash
Occupy, usually uninvited;
My son's friends crashed our house last weekend
Sawaira Riaz
Mar 17, 2023
Crash
Cause to crash;
The terrorists crashed the car into the gate of the palace
Sawaira Riaz
Mar 17, 2023
Crash
Hurl or thrust violently;
He dashed the plate against the wall
Waves were dashing against the rock
Sawaira Riaz
Mar 17, 2023
Crash
Undergo a sudden and severe downturn;
The economy crashed
Will the stock market crash again?
Sawaira Riaz
Mar 17, 2023
Crash
Stop operating;
My computer crashed last night
The system goes down at least once a week
Sawaira Riaz
Mar 17, 2023
Crash
Sleep in a convenient place;
You can crash here, though it's not very comfortable
Sawaira Riaz
Mar 17, 2023
FAQs
Can a crash represent a sudden decrease in value?
Yes, a crash can refer to a sudden and significant decrease, like a market crash.
Sawaira Riaz
Sep 30, 2023
Can crash refer to a sound?
Yes, crash can denote a loud, abrupt sound, like the crash of thunder.
Sawaira Riaz
Sep 30, 2023
Is clash used as a verb?
Yes, clash can be used as a verb meaning to conflict or be in opposition.
Sawaira Riaz
Sep 30, 2023
Can colors clash?
Yes, colors that do not go well together are said to clash.
Aimie Carlson
Sep 30, 2023
Can clash refer to a sound?
Yes, clash can refer to a loud sound produced by metal objects colliding.
Sawaira Riaz
Sep 30, 2023
Can crash be used as a verb?
Yes, crash can be used as a verb meaning to collide violently or fail suddenly.
Sawaira Riaz
Sep 30, 2023
Can ideologies clash?
Absolutely, ideologies can clash, leading to disputes or conflicts.
Sawaira Riaz
Sep 30, 2023
Is a clash always physical?
No, a clash can also be a disagreement or conflict of ideas or interests.
Sawaira Riaz
Sep 30, 2023
Can a crash be a decline in health?
While not typical, “crash” can metaphorically represent a sudden decline in health.
Janet White
Sep 30, 2023
Can a computer crash?
Yes, a computer can crash, meaning it suddenly stops working due to a system failure.
Aimie Carlson
Sep 30, 2023
Is a car crash always fatal?
No, a car crash can range from minor to fatal.
Samantha Walker
Sep 30, 2023
Can a crash be prevented?
Some crashes can be prevented with precautions and safety measures.
Samantha Walker
Sep 30, 2023
Can a clash occur between friends?
Yes, even friends can experience clashes or disagreements.
Sawaira Riaz
Sep 30, 2023
Can a clash be resolved peacefully?
Yes, many clashes can be resolved through dialogue and understanding.
Aimie Carlson
Sep 30, 2023
Can clash represent a competition?
Yes, clash can also denote a competitive encounter between teams or individuals.
Samantha Walker
Sep 30, 2023
About Author
Written by
Sawaira RiazSawaira is a dedicated content editor at difference.wiki, where she meticulously refines articles to ensure clarity and accuracy. With a keen eye for detail, she upholds the site's commitment to delivering insightful and precise content.
Edited by
Huma SaeedHuma is a renowned researcher acclaimed for her innovative work in Difference Wiki. Her dedication has led to key breakthroughs, establishing her prominence in academia. Her contributions continually inspire and guide her field.
