Clash vs. Crash: Difference and Comparison
Edited by Muazma Batool — By Muneeza Rehman — Updated on September 7, 2023
Clash refers to a conflict or a discordant sound, while crash denotes a violent collision or a sudden failure.
Difference Between Clash and Crash
Clash and crash are two distinct words in the English language, each carrying its unique implications and usage. Clash often relates to conflicts or disagreements, be they verbal, ideological, or physical. For instance, when two opposing teams meet in a crucial game, their encounter might be called a clash. In a more auditory context, clash could refer to two discordant musical notes played simultaneously, creating a jarring effect on the listener's ear.
Muneeza Rehman
Sep 07, 2023
Conversely, crash primarily denotes a violent and often sudden collision. This could be two cars meeting in an unfortunate accident or a computer program suddenly failing and shutting down. The imagery evoked by "crash" is generally more abrupt and physically destructive than that of "clash." Crash can also convey the idea of a sudden and usually unexpected failure or decline, like the stock market crash.
Muneeza Rehman
Sep 07, 2023
At times, the contexts of clash and crash might overlap, but their core meanings remain different. For example, if two people have a heated argument in a public place, their disagreement could be termed a clash. However, if someone accidentally drops a glass vase onto the floor, causing it to shatter, it would be described as a crash.
Muneeza Rehman
Sep 07, 2023
While "clash" often portrays differences, disagreements, or discordance, "crash" signifies abruptness, violence, or a sudden end. Both words, though distinct in their primary meanings, contribute richly to the language by allowing nuanced expressions of conflict, disagreement, and disruption.
Jonathan
Sep 07, 2023
Clash vs. Crash Comparison Chart
Common Context
Disagreements, competitions, discordant sounds
Accidents, sudden failures, abrupt declines
Muneeza Rehman
Sep 07, 2023
Clash vs. Crash Definitions
◉Clash
A vehement disagreement or conflict
The two rivals had a major clash during the debate.
Levi
Sep 07, 2023
◉Crash
A sudden failure or decline
The stock market crash of 1929 led to the Great Depression.
Olivia
Sep 07, 2023
◉Clash
A discordant sound
The clash of cymbals signaled the end of the performance.
William
Sep 07, 2023
◉Crash
To break violently or noisily; smash
The dishes crashed to pieces on the floor.
Muneeza Rehman
May 03, 2023
◉Clash
To collide with a loud, harsh, usually metallic noise
cymbals clashing.
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May 03, 2023
◉Crash
To undergo sudden damage or destruction on impact
The car crashed into a tree.
Muneeza Rehman
May 03, 2023
◉Crash
To make a sudden loud noise
The cymbals crash at the end of each measure.
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May 03, 2023
◉Clash
To be in opposition or disagreement
an eyewitness account that clashed with published reports.
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May 03, 2023
◉Crash
To move noisily or so as to cause damage
went crashing through the woods.
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May 03, 2023
◉Clash
To create an unpleasant visual impression when placed together
colors that clash.
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May 03, 2023
◉Clash
A loud, harsh noise, such as that made by two metal objects in collision.
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May 03, 2023
◉Crash
(Slang) To undergo a period of unpleasant feeling or depression as an aftereffect of drug-taking.
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May 03, 2023
◉Clash
A disagreement or state of opposition
a clash of political ideologies.
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May 03, 2023
◉Clash
An incongruity or unpleasant juxtaposition of different colors or elements.
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May 03, 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.
Muneeza Rehman
May 03, 2023
◉Crash
(Informal) To join or enter (a party, for example) without invitation.
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May 03, 2023
◉Crash
A sudden loud noise, as of an object breaking
She looked up when she heard the crash outside.
Muneeza Rehman
May 03, 2023
◉Clash
Opposition; contradiction; such as between differing or contending interests, views, purposes etc.
clash of beliefs
culture clash
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May 03, 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.
Muneeza Rehman
May 03, 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.
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May 03, 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.
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May 03, 2023
◉Crash
A sudden failure of a program or operating system, usually without serious consequences.
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May 03, 2023
◉Crash
A coarse, light, unevenly woven fabric of cotton or linen, used for towels and curtains.
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May 03, 2023
◉Clash
To come into violent conflict.
Fans from opposing teams clashed on the streets after the game.
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May 03, 2023
◉Crash
Starched reinforced fabric used to strengthen a book binding or the spine of a bound book.
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May 03, 2023
◉Clash
(intransitive) To argue angrily.
My parents often clashed about minor things, such as the cleaning or shopping rota.
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May 03, 2023
◉Crash
Of or characterized by an intensive effort to produce or accomplish
a crash course on income-tax preparation.
a crash diet.
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May 03, 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.
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May 03, 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.
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May 03, 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.
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May 03, 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.
Muneeza Rehman
May 03, 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.
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May 03, 2023
◉Crash
(finance) A sudden large decline of business or the prices of stocks (especially one that causes additional failures).
the stock market crash
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May 03, 2023
◉Clash
To make a noise by striking against something; to dash noisily together.
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May 03, 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.
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May 03, 2023
◉Crash
(ecology) A sudden decline in any living form's population levels, often leading to extinction.
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May 03, 2023
◉Clash
A loud noise resulting from collision; a noisy collision of bodies; a collision.
The roll of cannon and clash of arms.
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May 03, 2023
◉Clash
Opposition; contradiction; as between differing or contending interests, views, purposes, etc.
Clashes between popes and kings.
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May 03, 2023
◉Clash
a loud resonant repeating noise;
he could hear the clang of distant bells
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May 03, 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.
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May 03, 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.
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May 03, 2023
◉Clash
a state of conflict between colors;
her dress was a disturbing clash of colors
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May 03, 2023
◉Crash
To accelerate a project or a task or its schedule by devoting more resources to it.
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May 03, 2023
◉Crash
To make or experience informal temporary living arrangements, especially overnight.
Hey dude, can I crash at your pad?
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May 03, 2023
◉Clash
crash together with violent impact;
The cars collided
Two meteors clashed
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May 03, 2023
◉Crash
To lie down for a long rest, sleep or nap, as from tiredness or exhaustion.
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May 03, 2023
◉Crash
To terminate extraordinarily.
If the system crashes again, we'll have it fixed in the computer shop.
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May 03, 2023
◉Clash
A competitive encounter
Tonight's basketball game is expected to be a major clash.
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Sep 07, 2023
◉Crash
To cause to terminate extraordinarily.
Double-clicking this icon crashes the desktop.
Muneeza Rehman
May 03, 2023
◉Clash
A distinct difference in style or color
Her green shoes are in clash with her red dress.
Jonathan
Sep 07, 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.
Muneeza Rehman
May 03, 2023
◉Clash
An engagement in combat
Historical records describe the clash between two ancient civilizations.
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Sep 07, 2023
◉Crash
To take a sudden and severe turn for the worse; to rapidly deteriorate.
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May 03, 2023
◉Crash
To break in pieces violently; to dash together with noise and violence.
He shakt his head, and crasht his teeth for ire.
Muneeza Rehman
May 03, 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.
Muneeza Rehman
May 03, 2023
◉Crash
To break with violence and noise; as, the chimney in falling crashed through the roof.
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May 03, 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.
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May 03, 2023
◉Crash
Ruin; failure; sudden breaking down, as of a business house or a commercial enterprise.
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May 03, 2023
◉Crash
a loud resonant repeating noise;
he could hear the clang of distant bells
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May 03, 2023
◉Crash
a serious accident (usually involving one or more vehicles);
they are still investigating the crash of the TWA plane
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May 03, 2023
◉Crash
a sudden large decline of business or the prices of stocks (especially one that causes additional failures)
Muneeza Rehman
May 03, 2023
◉Crash
the act of colliding with something;
his crash through the window
the fullback's smash into the defensive line
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May 03, 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
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May 03, 2023
◉Crash
fall or come down violently;
The branch crashed down on my car
The plane crashed in the sea
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May 03, 2023
◉Crash
move with, or as if with, a crashing noise;
The car crashed through the glass door
Muneeza Rehman
May 03, 2023
◉Crash
undergo damage or destruction on impact;
the plane crashed into the ocean
The car crashed into the lamp post
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May 03, 2023
◉Crash
occupy, usually uninvited;
My son's friends crashed our house last weekend
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May 03, 2023
◉Crash
cause to crash;
The terrorists crashed the car into the gate of the palace
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May 03, 2023
◉Crash
hurl or thrust violently;
He dashed the plate against the wall
Waves were dashing against the rock
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May 03, 2023
◉Crash
undergo a sudden and severe downturn;
the economy crashed
will the stock market crash again?
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May 03, 2023
◉Crash
stop operating;
My computer crashed last night
The system goes down at least once a week
Muneeza Rehman
May 03, 2023
◉Crash
sleep in a convenient place;
You can crash here, though it's not very comfortable
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May 03, 2023
◉Crash
A violent collision, typically involving vehicles
There was a major car crash on the freeway this morning.
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Sep 07, 2023
◉Crash
A sudden loud noise
The crash of thunder startled everyone in the room.
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Sep 07, 2023
◉Crash
The act of forcefully hitting something
The waves crash against the rocks during high tide.
Nolan
Sep 07, 2023
◉Crash
A sudden descent of an aircraft
The investigators are looking into the reasons behind the plane crash.
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Sep 07, 2023
Clash vs. Crash Frequently Asked Questions
What does crash typically refer to in transportation?
A crash refers to a violent collision, often involving vehicles or aircraft.
Muneeza Rehman
Sep 07, 2023
Can music instruments clash?
Yes, when played discordantly, instruments produce a clash of sounds.
Lucas
Sep 07, 2023
What scenarios often lead to a clash?
Situations with opposing views, values, or interests often result in a clash.
Muneeza Rehman
Sep 07, 2023
What might cause a computer to crash?
Software bugs, hardware failures, or viruses might cause a computer to crash.
Jonathan
Sep 07, 2023
Can ideologies or beliefs clash?
Absolutely, differing ideologies or beliefs can lead to a clash or conflict between groups.
Muneeza Rehman
Sep 07, 2023
Can colors clash?
Yes, when colors don't harmoniously blend together, they're said to clash.
Levi
Sep 07, 2023
Is a clash always violent?
Not necessarily; clash can also refer to mild disagreements or discordant sounds.
Muneeza Rehman
Sep 07, 2023
What sound does glass make when dropped?
The sound of glass breaking is often described as a crash.
Muneeza Rehman
Sep 07, 2023
Is crash always negative?
Mostly, as it typically denotes collisions, failures, or sudden declines, all of which have negative connotations.
Muneeza Rehman
Sep 07, 2023
How does a market crash affect the economy?
A market crash typically leads to economic downturns, affecting businesses and consumers alike.
Lucas
Sep 07, 2023
Content Creators
Written by
Muneeza RehmanAt Comparisons.wiki, Muneeza skillfully navigates the vast sea of information, ensuring clarity and accuracy as the lead content editor. With a keen eye for detail, she curates every comparison to enlighten and engage readers.
Edited by
Muazma BatoolAs a content editor, Muazma Batool is not just a grammar guru but a creative mastermind who breathes life into every word. With an eagle eye for detail and a passion for storytelling, she transforms bland text into engaging content that captivates audiences and drives results.
