confrontation

noun

con·​fron·​ta·​tion ˌkän-(ˌ)frən-ˈtā-shən How to pronounce confrontation (audio)
Synonyms of confrontationnext
: 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 adjective
confrontationist noun or adjective

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
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.
For now, nuclear weapons remain a silent factor in the Israel-Iran confrontation rather than an active element of the battlefield. Kaif Shaikh, Interesting Engineering, 13 Mar. 2026 Cuban leader Miguel Díaz-Canel said Friday his government is engaged in talks with the United States and that the two countries are moving away from confrontation, confirming earlier reporting by the Miami Herald about the high-level contacts. Nora Gámez Torres, Miami Herald, 13 Mar. 2026 On that day, Reynolds said her son’s neck was injured during an alleged confrontation with a special education classroom assistant at Parker Elementary School in Englewood, leaving him in a cervical neck collar for more than two months. Hope Moses, Chicago Tribune, 12 Mar. 2026 What brings Vivek’s story full circle is her confrontation with her own pursuit of mythical goodness, and expecting it from others. Literary Hub, 12 Mar. 2026 See All Example Sentences for confrontation

Word History

Etymology

see confront

First Known Use

1632, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of confrontation was in 1632

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Confrontation.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/confrontation. Accessed 14 Mar. 2026.

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