Describe the word conflict

Other forms: conflicts; conflicting; conflicted

A conflict is a struggle or an opposition. If you and your best friend both fall in love with the same person, you will have to find some way to resolve the conflict.

Conflict comes from the Latin word for striking, but it isn’t always violent. Conflict can arise from opposing ideas. If you want to turn your empty lot into a community garden but your wife envisions a shooting range, you have a conflict. If you’re torn between two different desires, you’re conflicted. Conflict can also be a verb. If you schedule a dentist appointment that conflicts with a meeting, you’ll have to cancel one of them.

Definitions of conflict

  1. noun

    an open clash between two opposing groups (or individuals)

    “»the harder the
    conflict the more glorious the triumph»—Thomas Paine”

    synonyms:

    battle, struggle

    see moresee less

    types:

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    class struggle, class war, class warfare

    conflict between social or economic classes (especially between the capitalist and proletariat classes)

    insurrection, rebellion, revolt, rising, uprising

    organized opposition to authority; a conflict in which one faction tries to wrest control from another

    counterinsurgency, pacification

    actions taken by a government to defeat insurgency

    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

    combat, fight, fighting, scrap

    the act of fighting; any contest or struggle

    feud

    a bitter quarrel between two parties

    war, warfare

    an active struggle between competing entities

    conflagration

    a violent clash or conflict

    gunfight, gunplay, shootout

    a fight involving shooting small arms with the intent to kill or frighten

    brush, clash, encounter, skirmish

    a minor short-term fight

    close-quarter fighting

    hand-to-hand fighting at close quarters

    insurgence, insurgency

    an organized rebellion aimed at overthrowing a constituted government through the use of subversion and armed conflict

    intifada, intifadah

    an uprising by Palestinian Arabs (in both the Gaza Strip and the West Bank) against Israel in the late 1980s and again in 2000

    mutiny

    open rebellion against constituted authority (especially by seamen or soldiers against their officers)

    dogfight

    a violent fight between dogs (sometimes organized illegally for entertainment and gambling)

    countercurrent, crosscurrent

    actions counter to the main group activity

    discord, discordance

    strife resulting from a lack of agreement

    fencing

    the art or sport of fighting with swords (especially the use of foils or epees or sabres to score points under a set of rules)

    faction, in-fighting

    conflict between members of the same organization (usually concealed from outsiders)

    set-to

    a brief but vigorous fight

    impact, shock

    the violent interaction of individuals or groups entering into combat

    dogfight, hassle, rough-and-tumble, scuffle, tussle

    disorderly fighting

    affaire d’honneur, duel

    a prearranged fight with deadly weapons by two people (accompanied by seconds) in order to settle a quarrel over a point of honor

    fistfight, fisticuffs, slugfest

    a fight with bare fists

    banging, battering

    the act of subjecting to strong attack

    beating, whipping

    the act of overcoming or outdoing

    affray, disturbance, fray, ruffle

    a noisy fight

    brawl, free-for-all

    a noisy fight in a crowd

    cut-and-thrust, knife fight, snickersnee

    fighting with knives

    gang fight, rumble

    a fight between rival gangs of adolescents

    single combat

    a fight between two people

    drug war

    conflict between law enforcement and those who deal in illegal drugs

    trench warfare

    a struggle (usually prolonged) between competing entities in which neither side is able to win

    blood feud, vendetta

    a feud in which members of the opposing parties murder each other

    type of:

    group action

    action taken by a group of people

  2. noun

    a hostile meeting of opposing military forces in the course of a war

    synonyms:

    battle, engagement, fight

    see moresee less

    examples:

    Battle of Britain

    the prolonged bombardment of British cities by the German Luftwaffe during World War II and the aerial combat that accompanied it

    Drogheda

    in 1649 the place was captured by Oliver Cromwell, who massacred the Catholic inhabitants

    types:

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    Armageddon

    any catastrophically destructive battle

    pitched battle

    a fierce battle fought in close combat between troops in predetermined positions at a chosen time and place

    naval battle

    a pitched battle between naval fleets

    armed combat, combat

    an engagement fought between two military forces

    dogfight

    an aerial engagement between fighter planes

    assault

    close fighting during the culmination of a military attack

    resisting arrest

    physical efforts to oppose a lawful arrest; the resistance is classified as assault and battery upon the person of the police officer attempting to make the arrest

    belligerency, hostilities

    fighting; acts of overt warfare

    trench warfare

    a type of armed combat in which the opposing troops fight from trenches that face each other

    storm

    a direct and violent assault on a stronghold

    aggression

    the act of initiating hostilities

    type of:

    action, military action

    a military engagement

  3. noun

    a disagreement or argument about something important

    “the familiar
    conflict between Republicans and Democrats”

    synonyms:

    difference, difference of opinion, dispute

    see moresee less

    types:

    show 13 types…
    hide 13 types…
    collision

    a conflict of opposed ideas or attitudes or goals

    arguing, argument, contention, contestation, controversy, disceptation, disputation, tilt

    a contentious speech act; a dispute where there is strong disagreement

    gap

    a difference (especially an unfortunate difference) between two opinions or two views or two situations

    dustup, quarrel, row, run-in, words, wrangle

    an angry dispute

    argle-bargle, argy-bargy

    a verbal dispute; a wrangling argument

    firestorm

    an outburst of controversy

    sparring

    an argument in which the participants are trying to gain some advantage

    polemic

    a controversy (especially over a belief or dogma)

    generation gap

    a difference between the views of young people and their parents

    fight

    an intense verbal dispute

    affray, altercation, fracas

    noisy quarrel

    bicker, bickering, fuss, pettifoggery, spat, squabble, tiff

    a quarrel about petty points

    bust-up

    a serious quarrel (especially one that ends a friendship)

    type of:

    disagreement

    the speech act of disagreeing or arguing or disputing

  4. noun

    a state of opposition between persons or ideas or interests

    “his
    conflict of interest made him ineligible for the post”

    “a
    conflict of loyalties”

  5. noun

    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”

  6. noun

    opposition between two simultaneous but incompatible feelings

    “he was immobilized by
    conflict and indecision”

  7. noun

    an incompatibility of dates or events

    “he noticed a
    conflict in the dates of the two meetings”

Definitions of conflict

  1. “The two proposals
    conflict!”

  2. verb

    go against, as of rules and laws

    “This behavior
    conflicts with our rules”

    synonyms:

    contravene, infringe, run afoul

DISCLAIMER: These example sentences appear in various news sources and books to reflect the usage of the word ‘conflict’.
Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Vocabulary.com or its editors.
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What is Conflict?

Conflict is any disagreement between two or more people and groups. Whenever two or more people have different interests, values, goals, and understanding conflict arises. It may be in a person, within people, within groups, or within organizations.

In other words, conflict refers to all kinds of opposition or antagonistic interaction between or among individuals and groups. It exists whenever one party perceives that another party has hampered or is about to hamper, the accomplishment of goals.

Conflicts indicate a scarcity of various things such as understanding, agreement, and compatibility among people in a sharing environment. It can arouse emotions and anxiety, lower satisfaction, and decrease performance.

In organizations, conflicts arise due to various reasons, the one reason is when employees do not get the salary they expected. Similarly, when one employee agrees with the given responsibilities and another is not.

conflict between boss and employees

Definitions:

  • Conflict involves incompatible behavior; one person interfering, disrupting, or in some other way making another’s action less effective – Dean Tjosvold
  • Conflict is disagreement among two or more individuals, groups, or organizations – Griffins
  • Conflict consists of all kinds of opposition or antagonistic interaction. It is based on scarcity of power, resources, or social position and differing value structure – Stephen P Robbins

So, conflict is a process by which a person or assembly senses frustration in the pursuance of some plans, goals, or objectives. It is closely related to change and inter-personal dealings.

Views On Conflict

There are 3 views on the conflict, the traditional view, the human relations view, and the internationalist view. They explained as:

The Traditional View

According to the traditional view, all conflicts are harmful and avoidable. Conflict is viewed negatively and associated with turbulence, agitation, destruction, irrationality, and violence.

The Human Relations View

Behavioral scientists argue that it is a natural and inevitable outcome in any organization and as such should be accepted. Conflicts are bound to arise in organizations because an organization is composed of individuals having different goals, values, and perceptions. So conflict is unavoidable and need not always be harmful. Under certain conditions, it could lead to more innovative solutions to problems.

The Internationalist View

This is the modern view on conflicts. Here the disagreement is regarded as not only inevitable but also useful. The internationalists argue that if harmony, peace, and cooperativeness prevail in an organization for a long time, the organization is likely to become non-responsive to innovation and change. A minimum level of conflict is required to enhance competency and make itself critical and creative.

Features are:

  • It occurs when two or more parties pursue mutually exclusive goals, values, or events.
  • It can exist either at talent or over level.
  • It is the opposite of cooperation.
  • It is a dynamic process.
  • It indicates a series of events.
  • It is a misunderstanding.
  • It is inevitable.
  • It is a reason for creativity.
  • It is a part of us everyone’s life.

Types of Conflict

4 types of conflict

Intra-Personal Conflict (Within an Individual)

Intra-personal conflict arises inside an individual. It arises due to divergent goals and multiple roles, which the individual is expected to play.

Goal conflicts occur when an individual faces the problem of choosing among competing goals. Role conflicts arise when the expectations of a role are materially different or opposite and the individual can meet one expectation only at the cost of other expectations.

It also occurs due to role ambiguity. Role ambiguity occurs when an individual is not clear regarding his duties and responsibilities.

Interpersonal Conflict (Between Individuals)

It occurs in a condition when two or more persons interact with one another. Such interaction may take place between peers or seniors and subordinates.

The conflict between them may arise due to the difference in their choices made by them. It is a result of an individual’s inability to confirm the norms of the groups. The main causes of it are personality differences, perceptions, clash of values and interests, power and status differences, scarcity of resources, etc.

Inter-Group Conflict

It occurs between two or more groups in the organization. Many intergroup conflicts arise for organizational causes rather than interpersonal causes.

The conflict between line and staff, between production and sales department, and between management and unions, are examples of group conflicts. The major reasons for intergroup conflicts are competition for scarce resources, joint decision making, task interdependence, introduction to change, and incompatible goals.

Inter-Organizational Conflict

Inter-organizational conflict is called when it arises between two organizations. It is a result of business competition. Both the conflicting parties generally engage in providing similar types of services or products. Both parties become barriers to each other’s success.

Causes and ways to Resolve Conflicts

There may be various causes/reasons for conflicts in the organization. The manager has to take the necessary steps to resolve these conflicts. The most causes of conflicts in the organization are pointed out below:

  • Misunderstanding
  • Personal Differences
  • Information Deficiency
  • Goal Differences
  • Lack of Role Clarification
  • Threat To Status
  • Lack of Trust
  • Scarce Resources
  • Poor Communication
  • Organizational Changes

The manager should take careful steps to resolve these conflicts, if not the organizational goals can not be achieved in time and with expected resources. He should go for conflicts stimulation, prevention, and resolution techniques. They are:

Conflict Stimulation techniques:

  • Reorganizing
  • Communication
  • Encouraging Competition, and
  • Bringing in Outsiders

Conflict Prevention Techniques:

  • Super Ordinate Goals
  • Reduce Interdependence
  • Exchange of Personnel
  • Liaison group
  • Appeal to higher Authority

Conflict Resolution Techniques:

  • Problem Solving
  • Accommodation
  • Compromising
  • Avoidance

Learn More: Full Guide on These Conflicts Management Techniques

Contents

  • 1 Whats does conflict mean?
  • 2 What does conflict mean example?
  • 3 What is conflict simple words?
  • 4 How would you describe conflict?
  • 5 Is conflict good or bad?
  • 6 Is violence and conflict the same?
  • 7 Does conflict mean problem?
  • 8 What causes conflict?
  • 9 What are the 4 types of conflicts?
  • 10 What is conflict in psychology?
  • 11 What does no conflict mean?
  • 12 What are some examples of conflict?
  • 13 What is conflict in human behavior?
  • 14 What is relationship conflict?
  • 15 What are the 4 types of conflict in human behavior?
  • 16 What are the 3 main causes of conflict?
  • 17 When can a conflict be constructive?
  • 18 What are the 6 causes of conflict?
  • 19 What are the stages of conflict?
  • 20 How do you handle conflict at work?

a struggle or clash between opposing forces; battle. a state of opposition between ideas, interests, etc; disagreement or controversy. a clash, as between two appointments made for the same time.

What does conflict mean example?

A clash or disagreement, often violent, between two opposing groups or individuals. The conflict between the government and the rebels began three years ago. … The definition of a conflict is a fight or disagreement. An example of conflict is an argument over parenting styles.

What is conflict simple words?

A conflict is a struggle between people which may be physical, or between conflicting ideas. The word comes from Latin conflingere Conflingere means to come together for a battle. Conflicts can either be within one person, or they can involve several people or groups.

How would you describe conflict?

Conflicts are generally defined as relational disputes between two or more parties. Relationship Conflict is a personal perspective and can arise when one person behaves in a negative manner or another person has skewed perception due to things like stereotypes and rumors.

Is conflict good or bad?

Many people view conflict as bad, negative, and tend to avoid it. … As with almost anything, conflict has advantages and disadvantages. So, the answer is yes – conflict can be good! Conflict has the capacity not only to cause harm and pain, but also to create a positive change for us [1, 3].

Is violence and conflict the same?

As nouns the difference between violence and conflict is that violence is extreme force while conflict is a clash or disagreement, often violent, between two opposing groups or individuals.

Does conflict mean problem?

A conflict is a disagreement or clash, which can be between two or more people or concepts. … A conflict can be described as a problem. The key difference between conflict and problem is that a conflict always has two or more parties whereas problems have no such parties.

What causes conflict?

There are five main causes of conflict: information conflicts, values conflicts, interest conflicts, relationship conflicts, and structural conflicts. … Such conflicts may occur over issues of money, resources, or time.

What are the 4 types of conflicts?

The opposing force created, the conflict within the story generally comes in four basic types: Conflict with the self, Conflict with others, Conflict with the environment and Conflict with the supernatural. Conflict with the self, the internal battle a lead character has within, is often the most powerful.

What is conflict in psychology?

conflict, in psychology, the arousal of two or more strong motives that cannot be solved together. … Psychologically, a conflict exists when the reduction of one motivating stimulus involves an increase in another, so that a new adjustment is demanded.

What does no conflict mean?

: not having or showing any apparent conflict nonconflicting testimonies.

What are some examples of conflict?

7 Types of Conflict in Fiction

  • Person vs. Person. Also called man vs. …
  • Person vs. Nature. This type of conflict counters a character against some force of nature, such as an animal or the weather. …
  • Person vs. Society. …
  • Person vs. Technology. …
  • Person vs. Supernatural. …
  • Person vs. Self. …
  • Person vs. Destiny (Fate/Luck/God)

What is conflict in human behavior?

Conflicts are simply disagreements. They become apparent when people contradict and oppose. Conflicts result from a variety of attitudes, needs, beliefs, goals people have and ways human respond to various situations. Disputes reveal a clear contradiction between people.

What is relationship conflict?

Relationship conflict is a disagreement between people (e.g., partners, friends, siblings, or co-workers). The root of the conflict might be something like a difference of opinion, experience, taste, perspective, personality, or beliefs.

What are the 4 types of conflict in human behavior?

Six situations produce four types of conflict: approach, avoidance, approach-approach, avoidance-avoidance, approach-avoidance and double approach-avoidance.

What are the 3 main causes of conflict?

3 causes of conflict

  • Poor communication. Every workplace relies on communication to get tasks done quickly and successfully. …
  • Misunderstandings, particularly regarding policies and practices. Businesses often have many policies and regulations. …
  • Personal differences.

When can a conflict be constructive?

Conflict is constructive when: Results in clarification of important problems and issues. Results in solutions to problems. Involves people in resolving issues important to them. Causes authentic communication.

What are the 6 causes of conflict?

Causes of Conflict

  • Conflicting resources. Employees rely on accessing resources, such as technology, office supplies and meeting rooms, to perform effectively. …
  • Conflicting styles. …
  • Conflicting perceptions. …
  • Conflicting goals. …
  • Conflicting pressures. …
  • Conflicting roles. …
  • Different personal values. …
  • Unpredictable policies.

What are the stages of conflict?

This article throws light on the five major stages of conflict in organizations, i.e, (1) Latent Conflict, (2) Perceived Conflict, (3) Felt Conflict, (4) Manifest Conflict, and (5) Conflict Aftermath.

How do you handle conflict at work?

How to Handle Conflict in the Workplace

  1. Talk with the other person. …
  2. Focus on behavior and events, not on personalities. …
  3. Listen carefully. …
  4. Identify points of agreement and disagreement. …
  5. Prioritize the areas of conflict. …
  6. Develop a plan to work on each conflict. …
  7. Follow through on your plan. …
  8. Build on your success.

Conflict is a state of disagreement between two or more parties. This disagreement can be realized in both peaceful and violent manifestations. A clash of interests, values, actions, or directions often sparks a conflict. Conflict occurs on a many levels—within the individual when a person confronts their own competing desires; between individuals such as in a marriage; between groups of individuals, such as work groups; between societies or cultures, such as different religions or ethnicities; or international conflict which may become a fully fledged war.

While differences are natural, the ways to resolve them can be violent or harmonious. Appreciating diversity of opinion, ability, and interest is the beginning of living in harmony, allowing the development of new ideas through give and take with each offering different information or skills. Overcoming the barriers between different individuals and groups, living in service to others, is a good foundation for successful interactions that will not lead to violent conflict. When conflict has occurred, reconciliation requires that each become sensitive to the other’s perspective and experience, possibly through the use of a mediator. True reconciliation is achieved based on forgiveness.

Definition

Conflict is a state of disagreement. To be considered conflict, a number of characteristics are generally evidenced (Dana 2000):

  • Interdependence — those involved need something from each other
  • Blame — the parties attribute the cause of the dispute to the behavior, attitude, beliefs, and so on of the other
  • Anger — the situation causes one or both parties to experience significant emotional reaction, in the form of anger
  • Actual problems — the behavior of those involved in the conflict leads to problems for themselves and others.

Conflict is generally regarded as an unpleasant state of affairs. Terms associated with conflict by people from over 60 countries worldwide include anger, avoid, bad, control, destruction, fear, fight, hate, impasse, loss, mistake, pain, war, and wrongdoing (Weeks 1994).

Conflict resolution is the attempt to reduce the tension and difficulties associated with a state of conflict. Methods of conflict resolution have been developed and applied in a wide range of social situations.

Types

Conflict can occur between individuals or between groups of many types. Among these variations are: interpersonal conflict between two people (such as within a family in the form of sibling rivalry or conflict between husband and wife, or bullying in school situations), group conflict between two groups (such as within a work environment), inter-societal conflict between two societies or cultures (such as conflict between Islam and Christianity during the Crusades, or between different ethnic groups within a country), interstate conflict (such as civil wars), or international conflict (war between two countries). Conflicts in these levels may appear «nested» in conflicts residing at larger levels of analysis. For example, conflict within a work team may play out the dynamics of a broader conflict in the organization as a whole.

Conflict can also occur within an individual. This conflict can be rational opposition between logical arguments or can degrade into schizophrenia, in which a person’s mind is actually divided against itself. Such a struggle is often subconscious and can result in great stress for the sufferer. Sigmund Freud believed humans suffer from a number of conflicting impulses for survival, sexual pleasure, and social restraint, which result in neuroses and other mental disorders.

Psychologist Kurt Lewin developed a typology of internal conflicts that individuals face. He identified several situations in which we experience mutually irreconcilable alternatives that arouse different emotions:

  • Approach-approach — when we want two different things, both of which we like (have «positive valence»)
  • Avoidance-avoidance — when we have to choose between two alternatives that we do not like («negative valence»)
  • Approach-avoidance — when one thing has both positive and negative qualities
  • Double approach-avoidance — a choice between two things each of which have both positive and negative qualities.

Causes

Together with the varying levels of conflict come a wide variety of external causes of conflict. These include specialization, in which niches fight over the right to assert validity of their position; interdependence, when a group cannot operate without the assistance of others; arguments over common resources; differences in goals; over authority; jurisdictional ambiguities; skills and abilities; values and ethics; and cultural differences.

However, all conflicts have as their root cause self-centered behavior, when one’s personal desires, or those of one’s own group, are pursued without regard for the needs of the other or for the larger society to which both belong. The result of such selfishness is the breakdown of harmonious interactions or the initiation of aggressive and destructive behavior.

Conflicts within the individual also arise from wrong motivation. Human beings often find themselves in situations where they experience a conflict between their mind, which seeks such eternal goals as beauty, truth, goodness, and love, and the body, with physical desires for such things as sleep, food, shelter, and sexual gratification. The conflict between these two types of desires is inevitable, since the nature and thus the needs of the mind and body are different, one being internal and eternal the other external and temporal. It is the challenge of all people to resolve this by training the body with discipline, and strengthening the mind to pursue goals of value while taking care of the needs of the body so that it can serve the mind’s goals.

Similarly, dealing with the types of internal conflict described by Lewin is a normal feature of choice between alternative courses of action. Learning to deal with these conflicting emotions is part of the process of individual character development.

Human beings also experience a conflict between the mind’s desires in pursuit of goodness, serving the whole purpose, and those that can be termed evil, namely those that seek to harm others, threatening or destroying the safety and well-being of others or even society as a whole. This type of internal conflict, which all people experience to some degree, is the subject of great debate. For many religions, this situation results from what may be called the Fall of Man, or a deviation of human nature from the original ideal of creation. In this view, the suffering resulting from wrong desires and our struggles to deal with such conflicts is something we are called to overcome. The secular view, particularly that of [[science
|scientists]] who accept evolution as fact, tends to regard both internal and external conflicts as part of our «animal» nature that enables us to survive.

Conflict theory

Conflict theory attempts to explain social conflict through the idea that all participants in a group or society attempt to maximize their personal benefits and are therefore at odds with all other members of the population. This view stems from the Hobbesian idea that men are naturally selfish and in a constant state of war with one another. The idea was later elaborated on by Karl Marx who believed history to be the story of conflict between the wealthy and working classes. Marx taught that this conflict would eventually erupt into a society-wide war or revolution. The theory has also been applied to microlevel interactions.

Conflicts among animals

Aggressive behavior is common in many species. Conflicts and their resolution appear to follow somewhat similar patterns between those between human beings.

Conflict resolution has been observed in non-human primates. Aggression is more common among relatives and within a group, than between groups. Instead of creating a distance between the individuals, however, primates were observed to be more intimate in the period after the aggressive incident. These intimacies consisted of grooming and various forms of body contact. Different types of primates, as well as many other species who are living in groups, show different types of conciliatory behavior. Stress responses, like an increased heart rate, usually decreased after these reconciliatory signals. These findings contradicted previous existing theories about the general function of aggression, such as creating greater space between individuals (first proposed by Konrad Lorenz), which seems to more accurately apply to conflict between groups.

In addition to research in primates, in more recent studies biologists have explored reconciliation in other animals. Peaceful post-conflict behavior has been documented. Reconciliation has since been documented in such species as spotted hyenas, lions, dolphins, and domesticated goats.

Conflict Resolution

Conflict resolution is the ending of a conflict, or at least reduction of its severity. It may involve conflict management, in which the parties continue the conflict but adopt less extreme tactics; settlement, in which they reach agreement on enough issues that the conflict stops; or removal of the underlying causes of the conflict. Settlements sometimes end a conflict for good, but when there are deeper issues—such as value clashes among people who must work together, distressed relationships, or mistreated members of one’s ethnic group across a border—settlements are often temporary. True resolution of conflict involves not only a cessation of antagonistic interactions, but also a reconciliation—forgiveness and a new start in the relationship.

There are many ways that can end a conflict, ranging from surrender or escape, acting with sufficient violence to defeat one’s opponent, to filing a lawsuit so that the courts will resolve the issue. These methods assume that one side is either correct or stronger than the other. An alternative approach is to assume that agreement can be reached through communication between the parties. Methods involved in such forms of conflict resolution include negotiation, mediation, arbitration, and mediation-arbitration, which is a hybrid of the two processes.

Negotiation

Negotiation, the most heavily researched approach to conflict resolution, has mainly been studied in laboratory experiments, in which undergraduate participants are randomly assigned to conditions. These studies have mostly looked at antecedents of the strategies adopted by negotiators and the outcomes attained, including whether agreement is reached, the joint benefit to both parties, and the individual benefit to each party.

Researchers have found that problem solving behavior such as giving or requesting information about a party’s priorities among issues encourages high mutual benefit. Contentious behavior, such as making threats or standing firm on one’s proposals, encourages failure to reach agreement or, if agreement is reached, low joint benefit. Conceding makes agreement more likely but favors the other party’s interests. The party who makes the first offer tends to achieve greater benefit than the other party.

Three states of mind discourage concession making: viewing concessions as producing loss rather than as foregoing gain; focusing attention on one’s goal rather than one’s limit (the alternative that is minimally tolerable); and adopting a fixed-pie perspective, in which one views the other’s gain as one’s loss, rather than an expandable pie perspective. Adopting any of the states of mind above diminishes the likelihood of agreement; but if agreement is reached, it increases the likelihood of winning, especially if the other party adopts the opposite state of mind.

Negotiators from individualistic cultures tend to take a more contentious approach, while those from collectivist cultures are more concerned about maintaining positive relationships and hence more likely to cooperate (concede or engage in problem solving). Accountability to constituents encourages contentious behavior for individualists, it encourages cooperative behavior for collectivists.

Mediation and arbitration

Two common forms of third-party intervention are arbitration and mediation. In arbitration, the third party listens to both sides and then renders a decision, which can be either binding or advisory. Most mediation consists of third-party assistance with negotiation. When conflict is severe and the disputants have difficulty talking calmly with each other, mediators can put them into contact and help them develop a cease-fire or settlement. If the disputants cannot or will not meet each other, mediators commonly become intermediaries and shuttle between them. Sometimes a chain of two intermediaries is necessary because there is no single individual who can communicate effectively with both sides.

Research into mediation suggests that it is usually successful in producing settlements. Disputants generally prefer mediation over arbitration, since it allows them to retain control over the final decision. This means that where failure to reach agreement in mediation is followed by binding arbitration, disputants will work harder to reach agreement than in straight mediation. In the case of small claims disputes, that mediation produces more compliance with the agreement than adjudication (a form of arbitration), perhaps because mediated decisions accord more with the parties’ needs. To be fully successful, mediators must be seen as impartial between the two parties. Having stronger initial ties to one side than the other is less damaging to the perception of impartiality than exhibiting bias during the mediation session. Disputants even sometimes prefer that the mediator be close to the other party so that he or she can exert influence over that party.

Reconciliation

Forgiveness 2 — part of the Forgiveness series by Carlos Latuff.

Reconciliation is the transition from a broken relationship to a restored one. Often, the restored relationship is stronger than it was prior to the conflict. Reconciliation allows renewal, which opens new avenues of friendship based on the common experience of the conflict and its resolution. The process of reconciliation involves taking a closer look at the other and at oneself, which leads to greater empathy, understanding, and respect.

Forgiveness is essential to bringing to an end the tensions that exist in the conflict. It means giving up the claim to retaliation and allowing positive interactions to take place. Forgiveness does not excuse wrong actions, nor does it mean that they are to be considered acceptable in the future. However, it does mean that they are no longer a barrier to effective communication and harmonious interactions.

Often forgiveness is difficult because the wounds of the conflict run deep. In many cases, it is the act of serving the other that allows these feelings to change. Thus, service learning, a form of experiential education, has been found effective in bringing together those who have had difficulties and allowing them to see each other in a new light. Whether this involves one party directly serving the other, as in a community service project in which white youths clean and restore parks and playgrounds in a black neighborhood, or where both parties work together to serve a third community, the act of service opens the heart and allows new understanding and appreciation of the other. Reconciliation becomes easier on this foundation.

Conflict resolution in schools

Among children, conflicts occur many times simply because of their immaturity. They are still in the process of learning to develop their social skills, and learning to resolve conflicts is part of their growth process. Schools offer a situation where conflicts will be experienced and where conflict resolution skills can be learned. To assist students in their development of such skills schools need to set high expectations for their students’ behavior, conveying the message that over-aggressive and antagonistic behaviors will not be tolerated.

At the same time, teachers need to give students choices so that they can work out their differences by themselves. Teachers can challenge students to analyze and suggest solutions to conflict situations. In this way children learn to take responsibility and go beyond the tendency simply to blame the other, expanding their responses to provocation beyond defensive reaction.

Students also need to learn how to communicate their feelings and needs constructively. Violence often results from inability to communicate effectively. Effective communication skills involve listening and comprehending, as well as expressing one’s own viewpoint well. Students can practice articulating the other’s viewpoint to foster empathy and mutual understanding.

Peer mediators are very helpful in resolving conflicts in school situations. Students can learn valuable lessons by acting as mediator and helping others to find solutions to conflicts. If peer mediation is not sufficient, teachers or school administrators may intervene to bring about resolution.

Conflict resolution in marriage

Marriage is a relationship that arouses the deepest emotions, both positive and negative. The intimacy of married life creates greater expectations and requires greater trust. If this trust is violated, then the feeling of hurt and betrayal can be far greater than with friends and acquaintances, and certainly strangers. The closeness of the marriage relationship makes both parties very vulnerable; violations of trust cut deep and can be very hard to forgive. When faced with such pain and stress, people may feel trapped, and rather than seeking a solution are tempted to escape. Divorce has become increasingly acceptable, providing an apparently easy escape from marital conflict.

Resolving marital conflict, however, is by no means impossible, although it requires hard work and investment on the part of both spouses. Marriage counselors (and family counselors when children are involved) are trained professionals who act as mediators to help a couple resolve their difficulties.

It may help to depersonalize the issues. Often, marital conflict has roots in differences between gender roles, experiences each had prior to the marriage (particularly if these involved sexual abuse or other domestic violence), or cultural differences. When people focus on their spouse’s shortcomings they may put love on hold and wait for him or her to change to match their own expectation of a spouse—often an impossible task. By accepting the other as they are and concentrating on self-improvement, investment in the relationship becomes possible again and harmony may well result.

On a deeper level, husband and wife can learn to appreciate their differences rather than try to make their spouse more like themselves. This allows each party to more fully express their individuality, fulfilling their unique potential, and becoming the mature person that their spouse can love with increasing joy and satisfaction. Once they feel loved, people often are more open to change, and thus differences can be overcome with less antagonism.

Conflict resolution and religion

All religions teach peace and harmony, yet many of the worst wars and continuing conflicts today are between adherents of different faiths:

Religion is associated with man’s attempts to plumb the depths of meaning in both himself and the universe. It has given rise to the most spacious products of his imagination, and it has been used to justify the most extreme cruelty of man to man. It can conjure up moods of sublime exaltation, and also images of dread and terror (Nottingham 1964).

In recent times, religion itself has come to be viewed as an agent of conflict rather than an aid to conflict resolution and the establishment of world peace. The Thirty Years War (1618 — 1648) diminished the population of Europe by close to 20 percent, and has been attributed primarily to conflict between Protestants and Catholics, at least in popular understanding. The «troubles» in Ireland spanning much of the twentieth century were also between the Catholic and Protestant groups. Terrorism in the twenty-first century, especially following the September 11, 2001 attack on the World Trade Center, has been seen as perpetrated by radical Islamic jihadi against those of other faiths.

The job of religion, though, is to empower human beings to change for the good. And, all religions have much in common, not the least of which is hope and desire for a world of goodness and peace (Wilson 1995). Thus, to exclude religion from the process of peace making is surely a loss to that process. But to be included in the peacemaking process, for example at the United Nations, contemporary religions must remove from popular opinion the assumption that strong religious belief is characterized by the likelihood if not inevitability of clash and conflict with anyone who does not believe in the same way.

To be successful, conflict resolution on the world scale must include the elements of religion and spirituality that exert such powerful influence in personal and world affairs. For this to be successful, religious leaders need to find within their own faith the strength to dialog, to respect the viewpoint of the other, and, in many cases, to reconcile and forgive.

Models of conflict and resolution

Cain kills his brother Abel

Within the Abrahamic faiths is found the model of conflict recounted in the story of the brothers Cain and Abel in the first human family. According to the account in the Book of Genesis, Cain’s offering was rejected by God while his brother Abel’s was accepted. Cain was angry—»his countenance fell»—as he experienced the feeling of lack of love. Acting on his jealousy with violence, Cain murdered his brother. This story provides a formula for analysis of the archetypical enmity of brothers.

In many conflicts these two relative positions are found: the «Abel position» in which one feels loved, valued, and respected when one’s efforts are validated and appreciated; and the «Cain position» in which hard work goes unrewarded for no apparent reason while another receives all the praise, glory, love, and rewards that Cain feels are his due. The strong emotions experienced in these two positions are opposite: Abel feels pride, happiness, and satisfaction; Cain feels anger, resentment, and lack of love. When these powerful emotions are acted on the conflict escalates, often with tragic and irreversible consequences.

Also told in the scriptures, though, is the story of Jacob and Esau, who were also brothers and who experienced a situation in which Esau rightly felt wronged as his brother stole his birthright by tricking their father, Isaac. In this case, however, their mother, Rebekah helped Jacob escape before his brother could hurt him. Then, after Jacob labored many years under conditions in which he was tricked many times, he overcame his trials and became prosperous. Returning to his family, Jacob acted humbly instead of with arrogance, and was able to placate his brother by sending much of his wealth ahead as a peace offering. Finally, when they met, Jacob bowed low and told Esau that «to see your face is like seeing the face of God» (Genesis 33:10). Through such service and respect, valuing his brother, Esau was able to forgive and the brothers reconciled.

This story of Jacob and Esau stands as a model of conflict resolution. One party, through strength of character (in Jacob’s case learned through 21 years of trials) is able to humble himself and serve the other, melting their heart so that forgiveness is possible, bringing mutual benefit. The act of serving the other is a key to opening their heart to allow a change of feeling from anger and resentment, restoring the feelings of brotherhood that existed originally.

Conflict resolution among cultures

Conflicts among nations or ethnic groups today are the result of accumulated historical burdens of crimes and mistreatment. These are passed on from generation to generation because of ignorance or unwillingness to take responsibility for the past. Fortunately, each new generation offers new possibilities; children are not doomed to repeat the mistakes of their parents’ and ancestors’ generations. In today’s world where technology allows us to communicate with people from all over the world and the increasingly globalized society requires us to work together, young people have many opportunities to relate to others. When they learn to relate to all people with respect, fairness, tolerance, and love they will be able to resolve the past conflicts and live in harmony.

It is easier to reconcile when the other is seen as a fellow human being, also vulnerable, possibly suffering and in pain, or deprived of attention and with unmet needs. In twentieth-century South Africa the black population mounted ever increasing protests against the oppressive apartheid regime. The most respected black leader, Nelson Mandela, had been imprisoned by the white government for many years. President F.W. de Klerk knew that if he succumbed to pressure, both from the black population within his country and from around the world, and released him that the white government would inevitably fall. Against the advice of his fellow political leaders he released Mandela in 1990. After his release, Mandela successfully appealed to end the violence and brought about a peaceful transition to black rule and a multiracial society. While in prison, Mandela underwent a transformation. Although belligerent when he was first incarcerated, he had a change of heart, and instead of nurturing resentment and hatred against those that put him there he rather made great efforts to understand the white Afrikaners, learning their language in order to read their books, and listening to the stories of the prison officers. Mandela was thus able to forgive the enemies who jailed him, setting an example of forgiveness and reconciliation for his countrymen. His switch to a policy of reconciliation and negotiation helped lead the transition to multi-racial democracy in South Africa. Mandela served as president, with de Klerk as his vice-president. The efforts of both men in regarding the other as a fellow human being with the common goal of peace led to a successful resolution, for which they were jointly honored with the Nobel Peace Prize.

Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King addressing the press in 1964. «An eye for an eye makes the whole world blind».

Martin Luther King, Jr. received a Nobel Peace Prize for his work toward peaceful resolution of racial segregation in the United States. He faced a culture in which he was judged as inferior because of the color of his skin, barred from drinking at the same water fountain, using the same toilets, sitting in the front of a bus, or eating in the same restaurants as white people. Although King and his fellow black Americans had every justification for resentment, anger, hatred, and the desire to act with violence against their oppressors, he taught non-violent civil disobedience as the way to achieve their goals: «We never get rid of an enemy by meeting hate with hate; we get rid of an enemy by getting rid of enmity.» On receiving the Nobel Peace Prize in 1964 for his efforts, King said «Man must evolve for all human conflict a method which rejects revenge, aggression and retaliation. The foundation of such a method is love.»

References

ISBN links support NWE through referral fees

  • Aureli, Filippo and Frans B.M. de Waal. 2000. Natural Conflict Resolution. Berkeley, CA: University of California Press. ISBN 9780520223462
  • Bercovitch, J., and A. Houston. 2000. «Why do they do it like this? An analysis of the factors influencing mediation behavior in international conflicts» in Journal of Conflict Resolution 44: 170-202.
  • Coleman, P., & M. Deutsch. 2001. «Introducing cooperation and conflict resolution into schools: A systems approach.» 223-239. in Winter, Peace, conflict and violence: Peace psychology for the 21st century. Upper Saddle River, NJ: Prentice-Hall.
  • Dana, Daniel. 2000. Conflict Resolution. New York: McGraw-Hill. ISBN 0071364315
  • Devine, Tony, Joon Ho Seuk, and Andrew Wilson. 2000. Cultivating Heart and Character: Educating for Life’s Most Essential Goals. Character Development Foundation. ISBN 1892056151
  • Gelfand, M. J., & J. M. Brett. 2004. The handbook of negotiation and culture. Stanford, CA: Stanford Business Books. ISBN 9780804745864
  • Kressel, K., & D. G. Pruitt. 1989. «Conclusion: A research perspective on the mediation of social conflict» in Mediation research. 394-435. San Francisco, CA: Jossey-Bass.
  • Lewin, Kurt. 1997. Resolving Social Conflicts & Field Theory in Social Science. Washington, DC: American Psychological Association. ISBN 1557984158
  • Lorenzen, Michael. 2006. «Conflict Resolution and Academic Library Instruction» in LOEX Quarterly 33 (1/2): 6-9, 11.
  • Nottingham, Elizabeth K. 1964. Religion and Society. Random House.
  • Sampson, Anthony. 2000. Mandela: The Authorized Biography. New York: Vintage. ISBN 0679781781
  • Thompson, L., M. Neale, and M. Sinaceur. 2004. «The evolution of cognition and biases in negotiation research: An examination of cognition, social perception, motivation, and emotion» in The handbook of negotiation and culture. 7-44. Stanford, CA: Stanford Business Books.
  • Veenema, Hans, et al. 1994. «Methodological improvements for the study of reconciliation» in Behavioral Processes 31: 29-38.
  • Wall, J. A., D. Druckman, and P.F. Diehl. 2002. «Mediation by international peacekeepers» in Studies in international mediation 141-164. Basingstoke, England: Palgrave-Macmillan.
  • Weeks, Dudley. 1994. The Eight Essential Steps to Conflict Resolution. New York: Tarcher / Penguin. ISBN 0874777518
  • Wilson, Andrew, ed. 1995. World Scripture: A Comparative Anthology of Sacred Texts. (International Religious Foundation) Paragon House Publishers. ISBN 1557787239
  • Zartman, I.W. 2000. «Ripeness: The hurting stalemate and beyond» in International conflict resolution after the Cold War. Washington, DC: National Academy Press.

External links

All links retrieved April 14, 2020.

  • Search for Common Ground — One of the world’s largest non-government organizations dedicated to conflict resolution.
  • The Five Steps to Conflict Resolution American Management Association.
  • Conflict Resolution Skills Help Guide.

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This shows grade level based on the word’s complexity.

[ verb kuhn-flikt; noun kon-flikt ]

/ verb kənˈflɪkt; noun ˈkɒn flɪkt /

This shows grade level based on the word’s complexity.


verb (used without object)

to come into collision or disagreement; be contradictory, at variance, or in opposition; clash: The account of one eyewitness conflicted with that of the other. My class conflicts with my going to the concert.

to fight or contend; do battle.

noun

a fight, battle, or struggle, especially a prolonged struggle; strife.

controversy; quarrel: conflicts between parties.

discord of action, feeling, or effect; antagonism or opposition, as of interests or principles: a conflict of ideas.

a striking together; collision.

incompatibility or interference, as of one idea, desire, event, or activity with another: a conflict in the schedule.

Psychiatry. a mental struggle arising from opposing demands or impulses.

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Origin of conflict

First recorded in 1375–1425; late Middle English (noun), from Latin conflīctus “a striking together,” equivalent to conflīg(ere) “to strike together, contend” (con- con- + flīgere “to strike”) + -tus suffix of verb action; (verb) from Latin conflīctus, past participle of conflīgere, or by verb use of the noun

synonym study for conflict

OTHER WORDS FROM conflict

con·flic·tion, nouncon·flic·tive, con·flic·to·ry [kuhn-flik-tuh-ree], /kənˈflɪk tə ri/, adjectivenon·con·flic·tive, adjectivepre·con·flict, verb (used without object)

pre·con·flict, nounself-con·flict, nounun·con·flic·tive, adjective

Words nearby conflict

confiture, conflagrant, conflagration, conflate, conflation, conflict, conflicted, conflicting, confliction, conflict of interest, conflict of laws

Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

Words related to conflict

battle, clash, combat, competition, rivalry, strife, struggle, war, animosity, difference, dispute, friction, hostility, differ, disagree, disturb, vary, collision, contention, contest

How to use conflict in a sentence

  • In immigration court, she claimed that she feared returning to Cameroon, a place that she has never called home, and where there is ongoing conflict between the state and anglophone separatists.

  • Justice has repeatedly said his role as governor poses no conflict, and he wants nothing from the state for his businesses or his family.

  • But, Liebman said, the logic that supported withholding documents doesn’t apply to the current fight because this one centers on allegations of conflicts of interest.

  • A conflict over which electors should count would only exacerbate those concerns.

  • That does not necessarily suggest that Russia plans to expand or accelerate attacks, but it may indicate that the Kremlin sees the current intensive confrontation … as a prelude to an inevitable conflict.

  • In the middle of all of that past suffering and present-day conflict, this Cosby bomb was dropped.

  • Their claims have led to both academic controversy and localized conflict.

  • The two-state solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict is dead.

  • World War II is still a long way off, but the seeds of conflict are already being sown on the continent.

  • So here we are with Abbas being the only one of three parties to this conflict still fighting for a two-state solution.

  • He must trust to his human merits, and not miracles, for his Sonship is of no value in this conflict.

  • The conflict in Tom’s puzzled heart sharpened that evening into dreadful edges that cut him mercilessly whichever way he turned.

  • In her he felt again, more distinctly than before, another person—division, conflict.

  • The conflict of these certainties left hopeless disorder in every corner of his being.

  • Battle of Surcoign; British defeated by the French after a sanguinary conflict.

British Dictionary definitions for conflict


noun (ˈkɒnflɪkt)

a struggle or clash between opposing forces; battle

a state of opposition between ideas, interests, etc; disagreement or controversy

a clash, as between two appointments made for the same time

psychol opposition between two simultaneous but incompatible wishes or drives, sometimes leading to a state of emotional tension and thought to be responsible for neuroses

verb (kənˈflɪkt) (intr)

to come into opposition; clash

to fight

Derived forms of conflict

confliction, nounconflictive or conflictory, adjective

Word Origin for conflict

C15: from Latin conflictus, from conflīgere to combat, from flīgere to strike

Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition
© William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

For a century the German rule was nominal, but with the outbreak of the conflict in the eleventh century between king and pope over the question of which one should invest the bishops with their authority (known as the _investiture conflict_, 1075-1122), Pope Gregory ❋ Ellwood Patterson Cubberley (1904)

Has anyone ever heard of the term «conflict of interest?» ❋ Head-Roc (2011)

The belief that competition and character are in conflict is a myth perpetuated by people who prefer shortcuts over hard work. ❋ Lisa Earle McLeod (2010)

The main conflict is set up pretty early, but again, it seems to get off track and degenerate into lots of minor conflicts. ❋ Unknown (2009)

Simon 9:17 p.m. comment: The touchiness by what you call the conflict is my point. ❋ Ann Althouse (2007)

The main conflict, the political conflict, is not between the Opposition and the powers that be, but between those powers and the citizens. ❋ Unknown (2003)

We have been in conflict from the time we entered into Confederation. ❋ Unknown (1909)

«The escalating violence and regional dimension of the conflict is alarming,» said Churches for Middle East Peace in a letter today to President Bush. ❋ Unknown (2010)

On Monday, the top American commander in Afghanistan said in a statement that success in the conflict is achievable if the United States revises its strategy. ❋ Unknown (2009)

The other party to this conflict is the Palestinian Authority, not Hamas. ❋ Unknown (2010)

I’m not interested because it seems like the conflict is all going to be catty, bitchy stuff and I don’t go for that most of the time. ❋ Tragic_elegance (2009)

Petraeus offered his professional military opinion — shared by many others, including the 2006 Iraq Study Group — that the Israeli-Palestinian conflict is a key driver of instability in the Middle East, and that working toward a resolution to the conflict is an essential U.S. national security interest. ❋ Unknown (2010)

“Of course, expert commenters here seem to think that restoring Ottoman control over the conflict is the solution.” ❋ Unknown (2009)

Of course, expert commenters here seem to think that restoring Ottoman control over the conflict is the solution. ❋ Unknown (2009)

It may take a little time to get a clear picture of all factions and interrelationships involved (additionally there’s the Markovian society which fell to the Collective) but the conflict is actually well-imagined and intriguing. ❋ Unknown (2008)

This conflict is a historical conflict, American support is Truman era historical support. ❋ Unknown (2008)

1) i want [mint] ice cream.
I don’t no conflict, but i want [strawberry].
DIE! [MO FO]!
2) i like to listen to conflict. ❋ Harsh_but_Fair (2004)

Whats a better conflict record? [Its time] to see whos who or the first [standard issue] [collection] ❋ Mikey Misconduct (2004)

Man, [CONFLICT] is still [pumping] out awesome [music]? ❋ Benjones (2005)

Example: [What is] the [conflict] in [the story]? Or: Hey, what’s the conflict here? ❋ Unknown Unicorn That Flys (2015)

[AOTS] management should hire [Alison] because she’s better qualified, but [Sara Jean] is sexier. They must feel conflicted. ❋ Hurlyburly3 (2010)

«This week I had confliction with [Dean] because he has a [big dong]. This affects my [time in] the house because…» ❋ Speakafreaka (2005)

“Mark and [Terry] are [butting heads] over product development again.”
“No surprise there, this place is full of [workplace conflict], I’m just glad I’m gone at the end of the month.» ❋ AKACroatalin (2015)

Person: Dude [every] time [you go] to the [club] there’s a Rivals-Conflict.
BY: GiovanniDYMillYentei ❋ MillYentei DYSlick (2020)

«Sorry I can’t go to skiing this weekend, I have a Fun Conflict. I am going to Vegas with my buddies instead.»
«Looks like we have a Fun Conflict on Saturday. We have to choice between [Jack’s] [tailgate party] and [Jill’s] hot tub party» ❋ Reddlynx99 (2011)

Don’t [buy] [conflict diamonds], it’s [wrong]! ❋ Acidplanet_Member (2005)

Noun

In great wars—the American Civil War, the First and Second World Wars—the largest casualties are suffered just before the conflicts end.


Steve Forbes, Forbes, 19 Oct. 2009


At a moment when the country was still in the throes of the conflict over Vietnam, it was refreshing to see the best of America.


Al Gore, An Inconvenient Truth, 2006


… for work-family conflicts to disappear, two rock-ribbed institutions must change: the whole concept of children’s care, and the way the workplace works.


Letty Cottin Pogrebin, Family Politics, 1983


The basic conflict in the novel is, of course, between the life on the river, where Huck finds innocence, brotherhood with man, and communion with nature, and life ashore, where, stage by stage, he discovers the corruption of society …


Robert Penn Warren, Democracy and Poetry, (1975) 1976



a conflict between two gangs



recent violent conflict in the region



Everyone in my family always tries to avoid conflict.



There was inevitable conflict over what to name the group.



They’re having serious conflicts over the budget.



I don’t see any conflicts between the theories.



You’ll need to resolve the conflict between your parents’ plans for you and your own ambitions.

Verb

Mr. van Wolferen says the U.S. must do more: It has to openly explain to Japan that it wants a managed-trade deal in order to end the bickering between the two nations, a move that would conflict with America’s free-trade rhetoric.


David P. Hamilton, Wall Street Journal, 8 June 1995


The expectations about motherhood as full-time job that this situation created conflicted with the philosophy of the women’s movement of the l960’s.


Anita Shreve, New York Times Magazine, 2l Nov. 1982


Lily smiled faintly at the injunction to take her tea strong. It was the temptation she was always struggling to resist. Her craving for the keen stimulant was forever conflicting with that other craving for sleep …


Edith Wharton, The House of Mirth, 1905



Reports conflicted on how many people were involved.



his statement conflicts with the facts, as given in the police report

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Recent Examples on the Web



Cathedral’s Jaron Tibbs was in consideration for the team, but was unable to play due to conflict with his Purdue football commitment, Broughton said.


Kyle Neddenriep, The Indianapolis Star, 4 Apr. 2023





But Poland’s aspirations to play a greater role in European foreign policy have been compromised by a longstanding conflict with the European Union.


Elisabeth Zerofsky, New York Times, 4 Apr. 2023





Once again, the lack of clear guidelines left me in a vulnerable position and could have led to conflict with law enforcement.


Sally Mahmoud-werthmann, STAT, 3 Apr. 2023





Taiwan does not seek conflict, Tsai said, reiterating her commitment to maintaining a peaceful status quo in the Taiwan Strait.


Meaghan Tobin And Ellen Nakashima, BostonGlobe.com, 31 Mar. 2023





Taiwan does not seek conflict, Tsai said, reiterating her commitment to maintaining a peaceful status quo in the Taiwan Strait.


Ellen Nakashima, Washington Post, 31 Mar. 2023





This is one of a growing number of conflicts involving mining proposals that could support the clean energy transition but face opposition due to their environmental and cultural impacts.


Sammy Roth, Los Angeles Times, 30 Mar. 2023





Habitat loss, poaching, and conflict with humans have greatly reduced their populations.


Tara Subramaniam, CNN, 30 Mar. 2023





The focus on anti-ship capabilities reflects the focus on a potential conflict with China in the western Pacific Ocean.


Sébastien Roblin, Popular Mechanics, 30 Mar. 2023




Many of them were conflicted about giving up their baby.


Larissa Macfarquhar, The New Yorker, 3 Apr. 2023





As a Dodgers fan living in Boston… I’m conflicted.


Daniel Kohn, SPIN, 29 Mar. 2023





Mixed Feelings: The actor Matthew Macfadyen, whose unbearably awkward Tom Wambsgans has gone from punching bag to power player, is conflicted about the end of the show.


Penelope Green, New York Times, 25 Mar. 2023





Zhou, 38, works in project management and mobile app development, and says he’s conflicted about using the app, which is heavily censored and monitored in China.


WIRED, 23 Mar. 2023





But would-be persuaders who expressed some doubt—or demonstrated that they were conflicted about the evidence—were more successful at changing minds.


Carmine Gallo, Forbes, 9 Mar. 2023





She’s been as glued to the screen as other fans, staying up to date with the influx of developments, but she’s conflicted by it.


Yvonne Villarreal, Los Angeles Times, 8 Mar. 2023





But experts are conflicted on whether these supplements can, in fact, deliver these results.


Mira Miller, Verywell Health, 8 Mar. 2023





Meanwhile, her co-worker Svitlana Badytsia is conflicted.


Lenora Chu, The Christian Science Monitor, 27 Feb. 2023



See More

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word ‘conflict.’ Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

    • See Also:
      • confiscable
      • confiscate
      • confiscatory
      • confit
      • Confiteor
      • confiture
      • conflagrant
      • conflagration
      • conflate
      • conflation
      • conflict
      • conflict of interest
      • conflict of laws
      • conflicted
      • conflicting
      • confluence
      • confluent
      • confocal
      • conform
      • conformable
      • conformal
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WordReference Random House Learner’s Dictionary of American English © 2023

con•flict (v. 
v. 

  1. to disagree;
    be in opposition;
    clash: [no object]Our views conflict.[+ with + object]My views on language learning conflict with yours.

n.

  1. a fight, battle, or struggle: [uncountable]Armed conflict is not the only way to solve disputes.[countable]conflicts that lasted for months.
  2. disagreement;
    quarrel;
    argument: [uncountable; sometimes: in + ~]The department was in conflict over the hiring of full professors.[countable]A conflict arose when the department tried to hire a famous professor.

con•flict•ing, adj.: conflicting points of view.

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2023

con•flict 
(v. kən flikt;n. konflikt),USA pronunciation v.i. 

  1. to come into collision or disagreement;
    be contradictory, at variance, or in opposition;
    clash:The account of one eyewitness conflicted with that of the other. My class conflicts with my going to the concert.
  2. to fight or contend;
    do battle.

n.

  1. a fight, battle, or struggle, esp. a prolonged struggle;
    strife.
  2. controversy;
    quarrel:conflicts between parties.
  3. discord of action, feeling, or effect;
    antagonism or opposition, as of interests or principles:a conflict of ideas.
  4. a striking together;
    collision.
  5. incompatibility or interference, as of one idea, desire, event, or activity with another:a conflict in the schedule.
  6. Psychology, Psychiatrya mental struggle arising from opposing demands or impulses.
  • Latin conflīctus, past participle of conflīgere, or by verb, verbal use of the noun, nominal
  • Latin conflīctus a striking together, equivalent. to conflīg(ere) to strike together, contend (con- con— + flīgere to strike) + -tus suffix of verb, verbal action; (verb, verbal)
  • late Middle English (noun, nominal) 1375–1425

con•fliction, n. 

con•flictive, con•flic•to•ry 
(kən fliktə rē),USA pronunciation adj. 

    • 1.See corresponding entry in Unabridged collide, oppose.
    • 3.See corresponding entry in Unabridged encounter, siege. See fight. 
    • 5.See corresponding entry in Unabridged contention, opposition.


    • 4.See corresponding entry in Unabridged accord.


Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

conflict n /ˈkɒnflɪkt/

  1. a struggle or clash between opposing forces; battle
  2. a state of opposition between ideas, interests, etc; disagreement or controversy
  3. opposition between two simultaneous but incompatible wishes or drives, sometimes leading to a state of emotional tension and thought to be responsible for neuroses

vb /kənˈflɪkt/(intransitive)

  1. to come into opposition; clash
  2. to fight

Etymology: 15th Century: from Latin conflictus, from conflīgere to combat, from flīgere to strike

conˈfliction n

conflict‘ also found in these entries (note: many are not synonyms or translations):

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