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
R. J. ClementsExamples 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
Diplomats can negotiate, but the final decision rests with one man — a leader shaped by decades of confrontation with the United States, focused on regime survival and determined to preserve his legacy even as Iran enters a new round of talks.
—Efrat Lachter, FOXNews.com, 6 Feb. 2026
In fact, Minnesota law mandates that all individuals, armed or unarmed, have a duty to retreat from confrontation or threat.
—Voice Of The People, New York Daily News, 6 Feb. 2026
Few figures in hip-hop are as comfortable with verbal confrontation as 50 Cent.
—Preezy Brown, Rolling Stone, 6 Feb. 2026
Multiple confrontations have also taken place in Lake Worth Beach, which has become a focal point of immigration enforcement in recent months as FHP troopers patrol neighborhoods and where more than 100 PBSO deputies are trained to act as immigration officers under the agency’s 287(g) agreement.
—Shira Moolten, Sun Sentinel, 6 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for confrontation
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Efrat Lachter, FOXNews.com, 6 Feb. 2026
In fact, Minnesota law mandates that all individuals, armed or unarmed, have a duty to retreat from confrontation or threat.
—Voice Of The People, New York Daily News, 6 Feb. 2026
Few figures in hip-hop are as comfortable with verbal confrontation as 50 Cent.
—Preezy Brown, Rolling Stone, 6 Feb. 2026
Multiple confrontations have also taken place in Lake Worth Beach, which has become a focal point of immigration enforcement in recent months as FHP troopers patrol neighborhoods and where more than 100 PBSO deputies are trained to act as immigration officers under the agency’s 287(g) agreement.
—Shira Moolten, Sun Sentinel, 6 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for confrontation
Cite this Entry
“Confrontation.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/confrontation. Accessed 12 Feb. 2026.
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