confrontational

Definition of confrontationalnext

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 confrontational Trey McBride and Adrian Hill's confrontational behavior in a Minnesota Vikings game. — Armando Salguero Outkick, FOXNews.com, 18 Oct. 2026 Nor was she put off by his more confrontational appearances on Fox News. — ABC News, 11 Oct. 2026 The candidate forum, held on Thursday night in Woodland and moderated by League of Women Voters of Yolo County, was a more confrontational showdown than their debate just one day earlier. — Mathew Miranda, Sacbee.com, 9 Oct. 2026 There’s no reason for this confrontational attitude with immigration enforcement. — Dominic Patten, Deadline, 30 Sep. 2026 The environment around Venus at the top of the month is pointed, confrontational, and probably a bit rage-inducing. — Steph Koyfman, Condé Nast Traveler, 28 Sep. 2026 The incident came as agitators against immigration adopt a confrontational new tactic of trying to stop the boats landing on England’s shores, clashing with police and rescue workers in the process. — Jill Lawless, Los Angeles Times, 24 Sep. 2026 Her work combined British tailoring and historical references with deliberately confrontational elements, enthusiasts say. — Miami Herald, 19 Sep. 2026 This may or may not be confrontational, but you could be suddenly held accountable for your words. — Valerie Mesa, PEOPLE, 18 Sep. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for confrontational
Adjective
  • Bam Adebayo wasn’t aggressive enough on the offensive side of the ball, which has been a consistent story line of his nine-year NBA career.
    — Omar Kelly, Miami Herald, 22 Oct. 2026
  • On a network like this, rule-breaking often isn’t aggressive at all.
    — Staff Report, Hartford Courant, 22 Oct. 2026
Adjective
  • Labour lawmaker Jo Cox was shot and stabbed in 2016 by a far-right extremist, while Conservative David Amess was stabbed in 2021 by an attacker inspired by the militant Islamic State group.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 20 Oct. 2026
  • Labor lawmaker Jo Cox was shot and stabbed in 2016 by a far-right extremist, while Conservative David Amess was stabbed in 2021 by an attacker inspired by the militant Islamic State group.
    — Rod McGuirk, Los Angeles Times, 20 Oct. 2026
Adjective
  • About 70% of the members of Brazil’s lower house and 80% of the Senate are considered to be hostile to environmental and climate agendas, according to the observatory.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 22 Oct. 2026
  • In a turnabout from Orbán’s hostile approach to Kyiv, Magyar’s government has expressed solidarity with Ukraine and designated Russia a national security threat.
    — Justin Spike, Los Angeles Times, 21 Oct. 2026
Adjective
  • This issue is particularly relevant in California, where billionaire wealth is often tied to technology companies, startup equity and other illiquid assets whose valuations can fluctuate sharply and become contentious.
    — Trevor Laurence Jockims, CNBC, 22 Oct. 2026
  • It was conceived following months of extensive negotiation that grew contentious at times between Zuckerberg and board members, including DoorDash CEO Tony Xu, Ambassador Robert Kimmitt, and ex-Microsoft executive Charles Songhurst.
    — Amanda Gerut, Fortune, 21 Oct. 2026
Adjective
  • The platform still plays that game, though even there the tone has become somewhat combative, as one creator notes to THR.
    — Alex Weprin, HollywoodReporter, 21 Oct. 2026
  • Addressing this head-on, in the moment, could come across as combative.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 20 Oct. 2026
Adjective
  • The use of force is allowed under certain conditions, according to the personnel board’s order, including when an inmate could be assaultive or hurt themselves — which led Green to dismiss CDCR’s allegation against the officer.
    — Corey Schmidt, Sacbee.com, 29 July 2026
  • As Molloy gradually succeeds in puncturing Lestat’s aloof, arrogant outer shell, his sound correspondingly shifts from assaultive punk to more contemplative ballads.
    — Alison Herman, Variety, 7 June 2026

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Confrontational.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/confrontational. Accessed 24 Oct. 2026.

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

More from Merriam-Webster