What context can I use each word in?
Learn when and how to use these words with these examples!
strife
Example
The company is experiencing strife between management and employees. [strife: noun]
Example
The political party is in strife over the new policy proposal. [strife: prepositional phrase]
clash
Example
The protesters clashed with the police during the demonstration. [clashed: past tense verb]
Example
Their personalities clash, making it difficult for them to work together. [clash: verb]
Good things to know
Which word is more common?
Clash is more commonly used than strife in everyday language, especially in the context of physical conflict or clashes of ideas. Strife is less common but can be used in a wider range of contexts, including social, political, and personal conflicts.
What’s the difference in the tone of formality between strife and clash?
Both strife and clash can be used in formal and informal contexts, but strife may have a more literary or poetic connotation, while clash is more straightforward and direct.
