resolve a conflict

Meaning

This expression means to find a peaceful and satisfactory solution to a disagreement, argument, or clash between people or groups. It is widely used in both personal relationships and professional, workplace settings to describe constructive problem-solving.

Examples

• Learning how to resolve a conflict constructively is essential for any healthy relationship.

  Learning how to resolve a conflict constructively is essential for any healthy relationship.

• The HR manager was called in to help resolve a conflict between the two developers.

  The HR manager was called in to help resolve a conflict between the two developers.

• Instead of shouting, they sat down and tried to resolve their conflict calmly.

  Instead of shouting, they sat down and tried to resolve their conflict calmly.

• It took hours of discussion, but we finally managed to resolve the conflict.

  It took hours of discussion, but we finally managed to resolve the conflict.

• She is taking a course on communication to learn how to resolve conflicts more effectively.

  She is taking a course on communication to learn how to resolve conflicts more effectively.

Common Mistakes

• ✗ We need to solve this conflict before it gets worse.

  ✓ We need to resolve this conflict before it gets worse.

  While 'solve' is typically used for math problems, puzzles, or objective issues, 'resolve' is the standard, natural collocation used for conflicts, disputes, and disagreements.

• ✗ They made a meeting to resolve with the conflict.

  ✓ They held a meeting to resolve the conflict.

  'Resolve' is a transitive verb here and takes a direct object. Do not use the preposition 'with' after it.

Related Expressions

Practice

• Active listening is one of the best ways to ___ in the workplace.

  💡 find a solution to a disagreement

  Show answer

  resolve a conflict

• They hired a mediator to help them ___ regarding their inheritance.

  💡 settle an argument or dispute

  Show answer

  resolve a conflict