Synonym Chooser

How is the word collision different from other nouns like it?

Some common synonyms of collision are concussion, impact, and shock. While all these words mean "a forceful, even violent contact between two or more things," collision implies the coming together of two or more things with such force that both or all are damaged or their progress is severely impeded.

the collision damaged the vehicle

In what contexts can concussion take the place of collision?

The synonyms concussion and collision are sometimes interchangeable, but concussion when not in technical use, often suggests the shattering, disrupting, or weakening effects of a collision, explosion, or blow.

bystanders felt the concussion of the blast

When could impact be used to replace collision?

In some situations, the words impact and collision are roughly equivalent. However, impact may be used to imply contact between two things, at least one of which is impelled toward the other.

the glass shattered on impact with the floor

When might shock be a better fit than collision?

The words shock and collision are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, shock often denotes the effect produced by a collision and carries the suggestion of something that strikes or hits with force.

the shock of falling rocks

Examples Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of collision Each year 80 reported vehicle collisions happen there linked to seasonal deer movements. Noël Fletcher, Forbes, 29 Oct. 2024 Erie’s Xtra Protection Features are automatically included with comprehensive or collision coverage. Brian Sloan, CNBC, 29 Oct. 2024 First theorized in 1916 by Albert Einstein, gravitational waves are ripples in the fabric of space-time created during some of the universe's most powerful events, including the merging or collision of supermassive black holes. Eric Lagatta, USA TODAY, 26 Oct. 2024 The pion theory also outlawed precisely the same collisions. Charlie Wood, WIRED, 3 Nov. 2024 See all Example Sentences for collision 
Recent Examples of Synonyms for collision
Noun
  • At least two-thirds of crash victims were pedestrians, bicyclists, or occupants of cars turning left at intersections without traffic signals.
    David Zipper, Vox, 13 Nov. 2024
  • The lack of regulation may help explain why the state has the nation’s lowest autopsy rate in child deaths attributed to unnatural or unknown causes — a category that includes suicides, homicides, crashes, drownings, overdoses and sudden infant deaths.
    Audrey Dutton, ProPublica, 11 Nov. 2024
Noun
  • Police have not determined whether the person was killed in a slaying or whether a marine animal or a boating accident could have led to a decapitation, Martin said.
    Antonio Planas, NBC News, 13 Nov. 2024
  • Alcohol, also potentially addictive, has significant long-term and short-term dangers, such as motor vehicle accidents in the case of the latter.
    Dr. Jerrold B. Leikin, The Mercury News, 12 Nov. 2024
Noun
  • Each insole features a shock absorbing cork material, a deep heel cup to stabilize your foot, a natural foam for cushioning and custom arch support.
    Maya Gandara, StyleCaster, 20 Nov. 2024
  • While these types of shocks tend to have little long-lasting impact on equity markets, Wall Street continues to be wary of the far-reaching effects of geopolitics.
    Vinamrata Chaturvedi, Quartz, 19 Nov. 2024
Noun
  • The shores of Europe were littered with wrecks from the First World War.
    Sam Knight, The New Yorker, 4 Nov. 2024
  • Skye is a wreck from the moment of her fateful contact, and watching an unstable protagonist get bludgeoned by terror in a world where almost nothing seems real is less gripping than watching one who’s actively fighting for her survival.
    David Rooney, The Hollywood Reporter, 16 Oct. 2024
Noun
  • Longdale says Blizzard hears about the impact Azeroth has had on people’s lives all the time.
    Cameron Koch, Rolling Stone, 23 Nov. 2024
  • Too often, leaders of color – specifically Black women like myself – are expected to be the ones making decisions, driving DEI strategies and ultimately responsible for impact.
    Carla Thompson Payton, Essence, 22 Nov. 2024
Noun
  • The shrill blast of the whistle signaled their departure, and the locomotive strained to pull away from the station, making the carriage jolt.
    Rachel Raposas, People.com, 30 Oct. 2024
  • How to prepare for the time change Some people try to prepare for a time change jolt by changing their bed times little by little in the days before the change.
    ASSOCIATED PRESS, TIME, 27 Oct. 2024
Noun
  • With a new house-music thump behind them, Fuerza Regida found a new after-hours realm.
    August Brown, Los Angeles Times, 8 Oct. 2024
  • North American hikers might want to run toward weird thumps on the trail.
    Melvin Backman, Quartz, 26 Sep. 2024
Noun
  • Hield converted his second and-1 with a backdoor cut and slam, pushing Golden State’s advantage back to 11 halfway through the period.
    Danny Emerman, The Mercury News, 4 Nov. 2024
  • One of those included a behind-the-head slam from Julian Phillips, who finished a dunk after Dalen Terry stripped the ball off Jaylen Wells at half court.
    Julia Poe, Chicago Tribune, 29 Oct. 2024

Thesaurus Entries Near collision

Cite this Entry

“Collision.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/collision. Accessed 28 Nov. 2024.

More from Merriam-Webster on collision

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