ˈkɒn.flɪkt ˈkɑn.flɪkt ˈkɒn.flɪkt ˈkɑn.flɪkt ˌkɒn.tɹəˈviːn ˈdɪfɹən(t)s ˈdɪs.pjuːt dɪsˈpjuːt dɪsˈpjuːt ɪnˈɡeɪd͡ʒ.mənt ɪnˈfɹɪndʒ ˈstrʌɡəl a hostile meeting of opposing military forces in the course of a war Grant won a decisive victory in the battle of Chattanooga he lost his romantic ideas about war when he got into a real engagement an open clash between two opposing groups (or individuals) the harder the conflict, the more glorious the triumph police tried to control the battle between the pro- and anti-abortion mobs go against, as of rules and laws He ran afoul of the law This behavior conflicts with our rules be in conflict The two proposals conflict! an incompatibility of dates or events he noticed a conflict in the dates of the two meetings a disagreement or argument about something important he had a dispute with his wife there were irreconcilable differences the familiar conflict between Republicans and Democrats opposition between two simultaneous but incompatible feelings he was immobilized by conflict and indecision 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 a state of opposition between persons or ideas or interests his conflict of interest made him ineligible for the post a conflict of loyalties