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
Much of the pro-Talarico online push centers on Crockett’s electability, a routine primary debate that grows divisive when her confrontational tactics, not her record, are targeted.
—
Gromer Jeffers Jr, Dallas Morning News, 16 Feb. 2026
Popular talk show host Colin Cowherd, who is paid to have opinions, threw up his arms recently on the topic and said his only suggestion was for Silver to channel his more-confrontational predecessor David Stern and yell at losing teams.
—David K. Li, NBC news, 15 Feb. 2026
Her style is confrontational and seemingly fearless, often provoking hugely divergent reactions from critics and fans.
—Emily Zemler, Los Angeles Times, 11 Feb. 2026
Comprised primarily of covers of Memphis non-hits, Behind the Magnolia Curtain is a bizarre record, its confrontational lack of chops intensifying its cockeyed charisma and ribaldry.
—Stephen M. Deusner, Pitchfork, 8 Feb. 2026
Preston’s remark, consistent with his confrontational style on the trail, points to the foundations of the race.
—Jake Sheridan, Chicago Tribune, 6 Feb. 2026
As Bisciotti noted last month, Jackson is not a confrontational personality.
—Jeff Zrebiec, New York Times, 6 Feb. 2026
The incident was the last straw for some members who have grown tired of Jones’ confrontational behavior with council members who have sided against her on high-profile votes, a source said.
—Megan Rodriguez, San Antonio Express-News, 6 Feb. 2026
When the Mexican-American War broke out in 1846, Polk established himself as a confrontational military leader by side-stepping the Department of War to create war strategy himself.
—Mikayla Bunnell, Hartford Courant, 3 Feb. 2026
Gromer Jeffers Jr, Dallas Morning News, 16 Feb. 2026
Popular talk show host Colin Cowherd, who is paid to have opinions, threw up his arms recently on the topic and said his only suggestion was for Silver to channel his more-confrontational predecessor David Stern and yell at losing teams.
—David K. Li, NBC news, 15 Feb. 2026
Her style is confrontational and seemingly fearless, often provoking hugely divergent reactions from critics and fans.
—Emily Zemler, Los Angeles Times, 11 Feb. 2026
Comprised primarily of covers of Memphis non-hits, Behind the Magnolia Curtain is a bizarre record, its confrontational lack of chops intensifying its cockeyed charisma and ribaldry.
—Stephen M. Deusner, Pitchfork, 8 Feb. 2026
Preston’s remark, consistent with his confrontational style on the trail, points to the foundations of the race.
—Jake Sheridan, Chicago Tribune, 6 Feb. 2026
As Bisciotti noted last month, Jackson is not a confrontational personality.
—Jeff Zrebiec, New York Times, 6 Feb. 2026
The incident was the last straw for some members who have grown tired of Jones’ confrontational behavior with council members who have sided against her on high-profile votes, a source said.
—Megan Rodriguez, San Antonio Express-News, 6 Feb. 2026
When the Mexican-American War broke out in 1846, Polk established himself as a confrontational military leader by side-stepping the Department of War to create war strategy himself.
—Mikayla Bunnell, Hartford Courant, 3 Feb. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for confrontational
Adjective
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The operation also resulted in the killing of two US citizens, the deployment of aggressive tactics by armed, masked DHS agents, and a soaring sense of trepidation permeating Minnesota’s immigrant communities.—
Yahya Salem,
CNN Money,
17 Feb. 2026
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Torres Hidalgo had been diagnosed with the rare and aggressive form of soft tissue cancer in December 2024.—
Thao Nguyen,
USA Today,
16 Feb. 2026
Adjective
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The ceasefire deal calls for an armed international stabilization force to keep security and ensure the disarming of the militant Hamas group, a key demand of Israel.—
Aamer Madhani,
Los Angeles Times,
15 Feb. 2026
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But since the beginning of the year, hundreds of Nigerians have been killed, injured, or kidnapped in attacks across the country with responsibility attributed to a mix of militant and criminal actors, including Boko Haram, the Islamic State, and a group known as Lakurawa.—
Adrian Elimian,
semafor.com,
11 Feb. 2026
Adjective
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Deery believes that decline can be attributed in part to prospective students and parents feeling like campuses are hostile to those who don't hold a liberal-leaning worldview.—
Cate Charron,
IndyStar,
18 Feb. 2026
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For some unexplained reason, if such an event continues for a prolonged period, citizens can often become inexplicably hostile.—
Wayne Chan,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
18 Feb. 2026
Adjective
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The discussion around tips remains contentious, and California lawmakers have struggled with how to handle the imperfect solution of service fees.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
20 Feb. 2026
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Over the past several weeks, Israel has launched a contentious land regulation process that will deepen its control in the occupied West Bank.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
19 Feb. 2026
Adjective
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Meyer, an at-times combative career litigator, was brought in from the NHL Players Association in 2018 to add muscle to a bargaining team that was viewed as having surrendered ground in the negotiations for the 2017-2021 CBA, which was almost immediately panned as a loss for the players.—
Hannah Keyser,
CNN Money,
19 Feb. 2026
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Known for being a staunch player advocate and for his sometimes combative demeanor, Meyer was unanimously elected in a vote of major- and minor-league players held during a video meeting Wednesday afternoon.—
Evan Drellich,
New York Times,
19 Feb. 2026
Adjective
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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
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Corigliano’s symphony is assaultive in style and confrontational in intent.—
Alex Ross,
New Yorker,
6 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Confrontational.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/confrontational. Accessed 21 Feb. 2026.
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