as in rivalry
an earnest effort for superiority or victory over another
the softball rivals met in an epic confrontation on the last weekend of the summer
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of confrontation
The confrontation is deepening confusion among the public that had already surged during the COVID-19 pandemic.
—
Ali Swenson, Chicago Tribune, 12 Feb. 2026
The confrontation was over a remark made about Simpson's red Chicago Cubs baseball cap, the Oklahoma Court of Criminal Appeals noted in a 2010 opinion upholding his conviction and sentence.
—Nolan Clay, Oklahoman, 12 Feb. 2026
Anyone who legally carries a firearm has a responsibility to carry it safely and to avoid confrontations or volatile situations.
—Voice Of The People, New York Daily News, 11 Feb. 2026
Haxhiaj was arrested during the confrontation with ICE along with another Worcester resident Ashley Spring and a teenage girl, the Herald previously reported.
—Colleen Cronin, Boston Herald, 11 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for confrontation
Ali Swenson, Chicago Tribune, 12 Feb. 2026
The confrontation was over a remark made about Simpson's red Chicago Cubs baseball cap, the Oklahoma Court of Criminal Appeals noted in a 2010 opinion upholding his conviction and sentence.
—Nolan Clay, Oklahoman, 12 Feb. 2026
Anyone who legally carries a firearm has a responsibility to carry it safely and to avoid confrontations or volatile situations.
—Voice Of The People, New York Daily News, 11 Feb. 2026
Haxhiaj was arrested during the confrontation with ICE along with another Worcester resident Ashley Spring and a teenage girl, the Herald previously reported.
—Colleen Cronin, Boston Herald, 11 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for confrontation
Recent Examples of Synonyms for confrontation
Noun
-
While Finland and Sweden may not have enjoyed quite the same level of Olympic success in women’s hockey as the US and Canada, the rivalry between the two Nordic countries is nonetheless a fiery one.—
Hannah Ryan,
CNN Money,
14 Feb. 2026
-
The epic race between Stolz and de Boo is the latest in their budding rivalry.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
14 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
Britain had split the Chagos Islands from Mauritius before that colony gained independence, something that has been a source of diplomatic friction as well as multiple legal battles with locals who were evicted.—
Brad Lendon,
CNN Money,
20 Feb. 2026
-
Arsenal is challenging for the titl while Tottenham — under new coach Igor Tudor — is in danger of being dragged into a relegation battle.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
19 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
Big Sean has never shied away from sharing his mental health struggles.—
Maya Georgi,
Rolling Stone,
16 Feb. 2026
-
Offense by committee with stable defense Without Curry and Butler, the Warriors’ offensive struggles were inevitable.—
Jannelle Moore,
Mercury News,
16 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
For the first time in four Winter Games, a Russian woman did not win gold in the singles competition.—
Bora Erden,
New York Times,
20 Feb. 2026
-
The global theatrical business has recovered faster, post-COVID, than the domestic market, and in most major international territories, there is still healthy competition, with multiple large and mid-sized buyers able to bid on buzz titles.—
Scott Roxborough,
HollywoodReporter,
19 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
In a duel of the top two teams in the West Coast Conference standings, Gonzaga (25-2, 13-1 WCC) spoiled the Broncos’ best start to a season since 1969-70.—
Jeff Faraudo,
Mercury News,
15 Feb. 2026
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Edgecombe hit three 3-pointers during his scoring barrage in the first semifinal to win his duel with Charlotte’s Kon Knueppel, who scored just four points.—
Dallas Morning News,
Dallas Morning News,
14 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
His party successfully capitalized on rising nationalism fueled by a deadly border conflict between Thailand and Cambodia last year, economic woes and uncertainty over Thailand’s trade relationship with the United States, and built up a strong local support base.—
Helen Regan,
CNN Money,
17 Feb. 2026
-
Units often operate across wider areas than in past conflicts.—
Aamir Khollam,
Interesting Engineering,
17 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
The film delves into the fragility of the human mind, the dangers of AI warfare, and the indomitable spirit required to confront terror in an increasingly digital world.—
Zac Ntim,
Deadline,
11 Feb. 2026
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This is information warfare on the cheap.—
Dana Taylor,
USA Today,
11 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
The term of art for this sort of battlefield confusion is fog of war.—
Judy Berman,
Time,
18 Feb. 2026
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At least 77 people were killed and dozens injured in various attacks, mostly by the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces, in densely populated areas, according to Sudan Doctors Network, a group that tracks violence through the war.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
18 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Confrontation.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/confrontation. Accessed 21 Feb. 2026.
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