nonconfrontational

adjective

non·​con·​fron·​ta·​tion·​al ˌnän-ˌkän-(ˌ)frən-ˈtā-shnəl 

-shə-nᵊl

: avoiding or being without confrontation

nonconfrontational protesters

a nonconfrontational meeting

LeVake is so profoundly nonconfrontational that he inspires instant trust.

—Josh Tyrangiel

… offering his advice in private meetings and public testimony in a direct but noninflammatory and nonconfrontational way …

—Robert S. McNamara

nonconfrontationally adverb

When he or she arrives, discreetly and nonconfrontationally say that the wine you ordered is not to your taste.

—Matt Kramer

Examples of nonconfrontational in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

In its newsletter, the group described the effort as nonconfrontational and fact-based. — Kelsey Ables, The Atlantic, 20 Aug. 2026

First City Network aimed to educate the community about AIDS, but with more of a nonconfrontational, Southern approach than national activist groups like ACT UP took. — Theresa Gaffney, STAT, 20 Apr. 2026

For baby-on-board incidents, a polite and nonconfrontational appeal to the parents can help. — Christopher Elliott, Dallas News, 26 May 2023

Both admit to being nonconfrontational and shy about their feelings for each other, which led to the miscommunication. — Sadiba Hasan, New York Times, 7 Apr. 2023

Word History

First Known Use

1968, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for nonconfrontational

• associational
• civilizational
• coeducational
• configurational
• consociational
• denominational
• improvisational
• investigational
• organizational
• orientational
• preoperational
• representational