bump

bump vb Bump, clash, collide, conflict are comparable when they mean to come or cause to come into violent contact or close or direct opposition.

Bump is used primarily of physical matters and then implies a forceful knocking or running against, typically with thudding impact

{

the ferry bumped into the mooring post

}

{

he bumped his foot on the stove

}

It may also suggest encountering an obstacle or difficulty

{

the builder bumped up against the problem of shoring up the wall

}

Clash may suggest hitting, knocking, or dashing together or against with sharp force and jangling metallic din

{

the swords clashed

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{

where ignorant armies clash by night— Arnold

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or sharp, although sometimes short-lived, variance, incompatibility, or opposition

{

Cavour and Victor Emmanuel clashed sharply, and on these occasions it was usually the King who won— Times Lit. Sup.

}

{

when the new demands of our changing economic life clash with the old dogmas— Cohen

}

Collide denotes a more or less direct running together or against with a definite and often destructive force or shock

{

the tanker sank after it collided with the freighter

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or it may indicate a forceful direct disagreement or opposition

{

an English East India Company was using the Portuguese route around Africa and colliding with the Portuguese in India— Barr

}

Conflict is archaic in senses involving physical contact and is used to convey the notion of variance, incompatibility, or opposition

{

conflicting testimony by two witnesses

}

{

to stand up amid conflicting interests— Wordsworth

}

Analogous words: hit, *strike, smite: impinge, jolt, jar (see corresponding nouns at IMPACT)