as in aggressive
feeling or displaying eagerness to fight
her confrontational, in-your-face manner doesn't help get legislation passed
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Recent Examples of confrontational
But the latest soccer event won’t likely signal any thaw in their long-strained ties, with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un maintaining his confrontational stance against South Korea.
—
ABC News, 17 May 2026
As confrontational as his images could be, the camera was Avedon’s way of experiencing the world, a way of seeking truth through invention.
—Sheri Linden, HollywoodReporter, 17 May 2026
Her tenure saw Latvia fully in line with its hawkish Baltic neighbors, who have played an outsize role in adopting a more confrontational stance toward Russia.
—Brady Knox, The Washington Examiner, 15 May 2026
Although he was taught to mimic the commercial and non-confrontational style of the time, Chino couldn’t resist the temptation to pursue his own style and ideas, including a trio of line-drawings protesting a proposed dam.
—Randy McMullen, Mercury News, 14 May 2026
Kainerugaba’s style is more confrontational, expressed often in harsh online posts that can give offense.
—Rodney Muhumuza, Los Angeles Times, 12 May 2026
Conversely, maybe the fact that their songs, while impressively self-possessed, weren’t directly confrontational has kept them from being counted as forebears to the feminist punks who would come after.
—Marissa Lorusso, Pitchfork, 3 May 2026
As one of the genre’s most confrontational figures, Coe’s career didn’t come without a fair share of controversy.
—Jack Dunn, Variety, 30 Apr. 2026
The political transition raised cautious expectations among regional observers that Caracas might adopt a less confrontational stance on longstanding disputes, including Essequibo.
—Jacqueline Charles, Miami Herald, 29 Apr. 2026
ABC News, 17 May 2026
As confrontational as his images could be, the camera was Avedon’s way of experiencing the world, a way of seeking truth through invention.
—Sheri Linden, HollywoodReporter, 17 May 2026
Her tenure saw Latvia fully in line with its hawkish Baltic neighbors, who have played an outsize role in adopting a more confrontational stance toward Russia.
—Brady Knox, The Washington Examiner, 15 May 2026
Although he was taught to mimic the commercial and non-confrontational style of the time, Chino couldn’t resist the temptation to pursue his own style and ideas, including a trio of line-drawings protesting a proposed dam.
—Randy McMullen, Mercury News, 14 May 2026
Kainerugaba’s style is more confrontational, expressed often in harsh online posts that can give offense.
—Rodney Muhumuza, Los Angeles Times, 12 May 2026
Conversely, maybe the fact that their songs, while impressively self-possessed, weren’t directly confrontational has kept them from being counted as forebears to the feminist punks who would come after.
—Marissa Lorusso, Pitchfork, 3 May 2026
As one of the genre’s most confrontational figures, Coe’s career didn’t come without a fair share of controversy.
—Jack Dunn, Variety, 30 Apr. 2026
The political transition raised cautious expectations among regional observers that Caracas might adopt a less confrontational stance on longstanding disputes, including Essequibo.
—Jacqueline Charles, Miami Herald, 29 Apr. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for confrontational
Adjective
-
Gone was the meek servant child, replaced by a confident woman who remained composed during aggressive cross-examination.—
Yudhijit Bhattacharjee,
New Yorker,
18 May 2026
-
The new reality finds those legacy players, with the single exception of Disney, playing defense as tech’s flywheel spins faster, and their pursuit of TV ad dollars becomes even more aggressive.—
Alex Weprin,
HollywoodReporter,
18 May 2026
Adjective
-
Analysts who followed Syria's civil war and militant groups in the region say ISIS was at one point a serious political rival to the more nationalist TIP.—
Emily Feng,
NPR,
17 May 2026
-
Al-Mainuki was born in 1982 in Mainok, or Mainuki, a village in Nigeria’s northeastern Borno, the heart of an insurgency crisis following the formation of the Boko Haram militant group around 2009.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
16 May 2026
Adjective
-
Women, people of color, and first-generation professionals were too often told their accurate perceptions of hostile environments were merely internal distortions.—
Jeffrey Sanchez-Burks,
Fortune,
13 May 2026
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Others, like Michael (Doon Mackichan), seem openly hostile.—
Keith Phipps,
Vulture,
13 May 2026
Adjective
-
James Ward Thursday night’s California governor debate underscored just how unsettled — and contentious — the race has become, with candidates repeatedly clashing over crime, election integrity, reproductive rights, and the balance of power between state and local government.—
James Ward,
USA Today,
15 May 2026
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The most contentious and controversial being some very pointed criticisms of Ole Miss, his former school.—
Ian Miller OutKick,
FOXNews.com,
15 May 2026
Adjective
-
Fernandez was combative when asked if there was any long-term concern about the injury.—
Lawrence Dow,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
13 May 2026
-
In Congress, Katie Porter’s blunt, combative style helped rocket her to progressive stardom.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
11 May 2026
Adjective
-
Unlawful activity including blocking roads, intentionally creating hazards and assaultive behavior will not be tolerated.—
Sophia Compton,
FOXNews.com,
2 Mar. 2026
-
Chief Judge James Boasberg ruled in two more surge cases involving Paul Nguyen and Nathalie Rose Jones, each accused of assaultive or threatening conduct during summer protests.—
Kaelan Deese,
The Washington Examiner,
5 Nov. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Confrontational.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/confrontational. Accessed 20 May. 2026.
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