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

Example 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 Officers were called to the collision just after 7:45 p.m. near Fruitridge Road and Ethel Avenue, but the cyclist was declared dead at the scene. Darrell Smith, Sacramento Bee, 19 Mar. 2025 This results in collisions and mergers between planets larger than Earth, creating more large planets. Robert Lea, Space.com, 19 Mar. 2025 In Las Vegas, several Teslas were damaged after Molotov cocktails and a firearm were used to start a fire at a Tesla collision center. William Gavin, Quartz, 19 Mar. 2025 The video released by police ends just before the collision. Meredith Deliso, ABC News, 18 Mar. 2025 See All Example Sentences for collision
Recent Examples of Synonyms for collision
Noun
  • Our dashboard How Low Can Stocks Go During A Market Crash captures how key stocks fared during and after the last six market crashes.
    Trefis Team, Forbes, 21 Mar. 2025
  • Thursday’s episode comes after a series of incidents in recent weeks, including near misses, crash landings and accidents, including the fatal collision of an American Airlines plane and a US Army helicopter in Washington, DC.
    Aaron Cooper, CNN, 21 Mar. 2025
Noun
  • The golden retriever didn't chew up anything during puppyhood and had no recurring accidents.
    Kelli Bender, People.com, 21 Mar. 2025
  • What if Gemma was at fault for the accident and seriously harmed or killed another person?
    Jason Pham, StyleCaster, 21 Mar. 2025
Noun
  • The college basketball world was in shock when USC Trojans women’s basketball star JuJu Watkins suffered a season-ending knee injury during the team’s March Madness game against Mississippi State earlier this week.
    Ryan Gaydos, FOXNews.com, 27 Mar. 2025
  • The reveal of David being a Survivor alum came as a shock to most of the eliminated DONDI contestants who were watching in the audience.
    Dana Rose Falcone, People.com, 26 Mar. 2025
Noun
  • Since his car wreck in February 2021, Woods has not played a consistent schedule.
    Thomas G. Moukawsher, Newsweek, 21 Mar. 2025
  • Luke Peterson, from Highlands Ranch, was killed in the March 16 wreck, the Douglas County Coroner’s Office confirmed in a March 19 email to McClatchy News.
    Sara Schilling, Sacramento Bee, 20 Mar. 2025
Noun
  • The festival will also host on April 12 an industry day that will gather industry professionals around panels discussing the impact of AI in cinema, covering creation, financing and changes in film production.
    Elsa Keslassy, Variety, 18 Mar. 2025
  • The impact of Mastery points and level progression can be sensed throughout the game.
    George Yang, Rolling Stone, 18 Mar. 2025
Noun
  • The agency cited not only enrollment declines, but the jolts of losing federal pandemic aid and rising costs, particularly for fire insurance and electric power, as factors.
    Dan Walters, The Mercury News, 15 Mar. 2025
  • Even index funds and ETFs felt the jolt since Tesla is a significant component of major indices — though diversified funds softened the blow compared to holding Tesla alone.
    Shahar Ziv, Forbes, 11 Mar. 2025
Noun
  • Then the silence was broken by the loud thump of Olive’s .38/40.
    Horace R. Hinkley, Outdoor Life, 19 Mar. 2025
  • This, more than any textured thumps, added to the immersiveness.
    PCMAG, PCMAG, 15 Mar. 2025
Noun
  • Last July, Bintou Keita, special representative for Congo to the United Nations Secretary-General, read an extract from a piece by a Goma slam poet in front of the U.N. Security Council.
    Patricia Huon, The Christian Science Monitor, 17 Mar. 2025
  • But Randle, who powered Minnesota’s first-half offensive explosion, came sprinting in for the putback slam to send Orlando to a timeout and Target Center to its feet.
    Jace Frederick, Twin Cities, 15 Mar. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Collision.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/collision. Accessed 31 Mar. 2025.

More from Merriam-Webster on collision

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