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
In 2021, Tatmon was observed loitering outside a liquor store directly across the street from the Sky Market with two other men, one of whom subsequently shot and killed Edward Morgan, 41, of Oakland, during a confrontation.
—Nate Gartrell, Mercury News, 24 Jan. 2026
Minneapolis-area officials, including Frey, as well as the police, religious leaders and the business community have pushed back, and anger grew after agent Jonathan Ross fatally shot Renee Good, a mother of three, during a confrontation this month.
—Arkansas Online, 23 Jan. 2026
Comprehensive battlefield situational awareness China Central Television reported that a confrontation-style drill between surface ships and submarines was held at an undisclosed location in the South China Sea.
—Prabhat Ranjan Mishra, Interesting Engineering, 23 Jan. 2026
The Miami-Dade Sheriff's Office has released body camera and surveillance footage showing a deadly confrontation between a deputy and an alleged shoplifter at a Walmart in Southwest Miami-Dade.
—Ivan Taylor, CBS News, 23 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for confrontation
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Nate Gartrell, Mercury News, 24 Jan. 2026
Minneapolis-area officials, including Frey, as well as the police, religious leaders and the business community have pushed back, and anger grew after agent Jonathan Ross fatally shot Renee Good, a mother of three, during a confrontation this month.
—Arkansas Online, 23 Jan. 2026
Comprehensive battlefield situational awareness China Central Television reported that a confrontation-style drill between surface ships and submarines was held at an undisclosed location in the South China Sea.
—Prabhat Ranjan Mishra, Interesting Engineering, 23 Jan. 2026
The Miami-Dade Sheriff's Office has released body camera and surveillance footage showing a deadly confrontation between a deputy and an alleged shoplifter at a Walmart in Southwest Miami-Dade.
—Ivan Taylor, CBS News, 23 Jan. 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 28 Jan. 2026.
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