confrontation

noun

con·​fron·​ta·​tion ˌkän-(ˌ)frən-ˈtā-shən 

: the act of confronting : the state of being confronted: such as

a

: a face-to-face meeting

a confrontation between the suspect and the victim

b

: the clashing of forces or ideas : conflict

a violent confrontation between rival gangs

c

: comparison

The flashbacks bring into meaningful confrontation present and past, near and far.

—R. J. Clements

confrontational

ˌkän-(ˌ)frən-ˈtā-shnəl 

-shə-nᵊl

adjective

confrontationalist

ˌkän-(ˌ)frən-ˈtā-sh(ə-)nə-list 

noun

confrontationist

ˌkän-(ˌ)frən-ˈtā-sh(ə-)nist 

noun or adjective

Synonyms

• rivalry
• battle
• struggle
• duel
• competition
• conflict
• warfare
• contention
• war

Examples of confrontation in a Sentence

There were several violent confrontations between rival gangs.

He would prefer not to have a confrontation with the authorities.

a series of confrontations between residents and police

We want cooperation, not confrontation.

We seek to avoid military confrontation at all costs.

Recent Examples on the Web

Video of the meeting showed the confrontation began during a confusing moment in the session. —Douglas Hanks, Miami Herald, 28 June 2025

Reactive dogs deserve patience and distance, not judgment or confrontation. —Alice Gibbs, MSNBC Newsweek, 25 June 2025

See footage of Trey Songz’s viral confrontation below. —Preezy Brown, VIBE.com, 25 June 2025

Nicholas Paolucci, a spokesman for Law Department, said Pearson remains entitled to representation despite the DOI findings on the migrant shelter confrontation. —Graham Rayman, New York Daily News, 25 June 2025

Word History

Etymology

see confront

First Known Use

1632, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing confrontation

• self-confrontation

Rhymes for confrontation

• abdication
• aberration
• abjuration
• abnegation
• abrogation
• acceptation
• acclamation
• acclimation
• accusation
• activation
• actuation
• acylation