CONFRONTATION Synonyms: 41 Similar and Opposite Words

confrontation

noun

ˌkän-(ˌ)frən-ˈtā-shən

Definition of confrontation

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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Example Sentences

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.

Recent Examples of confrontation The three-word message echoed her earlier defense of teenage fans caught in a confrontation at a Seattle Storm game after showing support for her stance on women’s sports. — Jackson Thompson Outkick, FOXNews.com, 17 Oct. 2026 Deputies returned fire, wounding Mullennix and ending the confrontation. — Sacbee.com, 17 Oct. 2026 Harris told the outlet that the reporter, Cat Murphy, was criticizing his news conference, leading to their confrontation. — Molly Parks, The Washington Examiner, 16 Oct. 2026 Dispute turns personal The confrontation grew out of a political disagreement over a proposal to extend term limits for Miami Gardens council members. — Antonio María Delgado, Miami Herald, 16 Oct. 2026 See All Example Sentences for confrontation

Recent Examples of Synonyms for confrontation

Noun

The alleged rivalry between Kate Middleton and Meghan Markle was seemingly dying down—but then Meghan and Prince Harry moved back to the UK.

— Lizzie Lanuza, StyleCaster, 15 Oct. 2026
The group will confront old tensions and determine if these chapters can finally be closed, or if some rivalries are simply too deep to leave in the past.

— Peter White, Deadline, 15 Oct. 2026

Definition of rivalry

Noun

Still, when the measles outbreak erupted, Bangladesh responded swiftly and initially seemed to be winning the battle.

— Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 18 Oct. 2026
Policy Policy Your guide to the Supreme Court, federal courts, judicial nominations, and the legal battles shaping American policy.

— Washington Examiner, The Washington Examiner, 17 Oct. 2026

Definition of battle

Noun

Hernández said the group wanted to use the platform to bring further awareness to the struggles immigrants continue to face in this country with an audience that notably skews more American than Los Tigres is accustomed to.

— Carlos De Loera, Los Angeles Times, 16 Oct. 2026
Hollywood executives at a panel featuring UTA, Gold House, Lionsgate and HYBE saw an opening for Asian talent and stories rooted in specific cultures, while conceding that getting projects funded is still a struggle.

— Ophélie Surcouf, Variety, 16 Oct. 2026

Definition of struggle

Noun

The five-episode doc follows Five Guys’ global competition of crew members from local qualifying rounds to the ultimate championship.

— Mya Copeland, Variety, 16 Oct. 2026
Economist Thomas Philippon calculates that weakened competition costs the typical household about $300 a month.

— Christopher Marquis, Time, 16 Oct. 2026

Definition of competition

Noun

Snell opened the seventh by walking Andrew Vaughn and losing an 11-pitch duel to Bauers, who won the battle with a two-run homer.

— Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 15 Oct. 2026
The anticipated pitchers' duel between Yamamoto and Henderson didn't work out according to plan.

— CBS News, CBS News, 13 Oct. 2026

Definition of duel

Noun

The group’s plans for the Middle East have been affected by the regional conflict, which has put some expansion activity in the region on hold.

— Rhonda Richford, Footwear News, 19 Oct. 2026
Given that the United States keeps getting mired in errant conflicts, Congress urgently needs to reassert its constitutional obligation to approve acts of war and oversee retrenchment.

— Charles Kupchan, Foreign Affairs, 19 Oct. 2026

Definition of conflict

Noun

Needless to say, the system has to be robust enough to handle battlefield conditions, including electronic warfare and communications blackouts.

— New Atlas, New Atlas, 15 Oct. 2026
Electronic warfare can create additional challenges for systems that depend on wireless links.

— Aamir Khollam, Interesting Engineering, 14 Oct. 2026

Definition of warfare

Noun

The ongoing war in Iran has centered on nuclear issues, including enrichment—Iranian officials have resisted any peace-deal terms that restrict the country’s enrichment program.

— Nick Bockelman, Scientific American, 20 Oct. 2026
Lessons from the smartphone wars Zuckerberg’s push to own the full stack may stem from his nearly two-decade rivalry with Apple and Google, which control the world’s dominant smartphone platforms.

— Molly A. Wallace, Fortune, 20 Oct. 2026

Definition of war

Browse Nearby Words

confront

confrontation

confrontational

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“Confrontation.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/confrontation. Accessed 21 Oct. 2026.

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Synonyms of confrontation

noun

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