as in aggressive
feeling or displaying eagerness to fight
her confrontational, in-your-face manner doesn't help get legislation passed
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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
Any American traveling abroad right now should prepare to have confrontational conversations, Hernandez says.
—
Terry Ward, CNN Money, 10 Nov. 2025
This year’s furry green villain is more funny than scary, his behavior unthreatening, his confrontational manner with the Whos never feeling particularly dangerous.
—Rob Hubbard, Twin Cities, 8 Nov. 2025
Lynne Ramsay has taken all of her films — confrontational tone poems generally revolving around one individual’s fissuring psyche — to Cannes.
—Ryan Lattanzio, IndieWire, 5 Nov. 2025
The collaboration between certain MAGA influencers and animal-rights activists has drawn out the most confrontational tendencies within each camp.
—Ava Kofman, New Yorker, 3 Nov. 2025
The tone is both confrontational and strangely paternal.
—Jayson Buford, Rolling Stone, 3 Nov. 2025
Many Democrats have adopted a more brash and confrontational style of politics, which refuses to keep anything quiet.
—Jeremy Lott, The Washington Examiner, 31 Oct. 2025
Yet Walden’s hero turn in the second episode makes a strong case for the value of confrontational interviews with powerful politicians.
—Judy Berman, Time, 30 Oct. 2025
The Republican president has been trying to tie up trade deals along the way, eager to show that his confrontational approach of tariffs is paying dividends for Americans who are uneasy about the job market and watching a federal government shutdown extend into its fifth week.
—Emma Burleigh, Fortune, 29 Oct. 2025
Terry Ward, CNN Money, 10 Nov. 2025
This year’s furry green villain is more funny than scary, his behavior unthreatening, his confrontational manner with the Whos never feeling particularly dangerous.
—Rob Hubbard, Twin Cities, 8 Nov. 2025
Lynne Ramsay has taken all of her films — confrontational tone poems generally revolving around one individual’s fissuring psyche — to Cannes.
—Ryan Lattanzio, IndieWire, 5 Nov. 2025
The collaboration between certain MAGA influencers and animal-rights activists has drawn out the most confrontational tendencies within each camp.
—Ava Kofman, New Yorker, 3 Nov. 2025
The tone is both confrontational and strangely paternal.
—Jayson Buford, Rolling Stone, 3 Nov. 2025
Many Democrats have adopted a more brash and confrontational style of politics, which refuses to keep anything quiet.
—Jeremy Lott, The Washington Examiner, 31 Oct. 2025
Yet Walden’s hero turn in the second episode makes a strong case for the value of confrontational interviews with powerful politicians.
—Judy Berman, Time, 30 Oct. 2025
The Republican president has been trying to tie up trade deals along the way, eager to show that his confrontational approach of tariffs is paying dividends for Americans who are uneasy about the job market and watching a federal government shutdown extend into its fifth week.
—Emma Burleigh, Fortune, 29 Oct. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for confrontational
Adjective
-
That’s the kind of chance that last season, a more aggressive-looking Stolarz would have used his frame — and frankly, his big-game presence — to turn away with ease.—
Joshua Kloke,
New York Times,
9 Nov. 2025
-
The agency has also faced criticism for aggressive tactics used by ICE agents in executing the president’s immigration policy.—
Andy Rose 19 hr ago,
CNN Money,
9 Nov. 2025
Adjective
-
Israel and the Lebanese militant group exchanged fire for over a year before reaching a ceasefire in November 2024.—
Wafaa Shurafa,
Los Angeles Times,
5 Jan. 2026
-
Iran has been plagued for years by staggering hyperinflation, fueled by Western sanctions imposed over the hardline clerical government's nuclear program and backing for militant groups across the region.—
CBS News,
CBS News,
2 Jan. 2026
Adjective
-
Skepticism came easily to Trump, who had long been hostile to mainstream foreign policy.—
Daniel Immerwahr,
New Yorker,
10 Jan. 2026
-
The helicopter the pilot was flying — a heavy, twin-rotor MH-47 Chinook — was struck by hostile fire during the operation.—
January 9,
CBS News,
9 Jan. 2026
Adjective
-
This sparked a contentious debate about whether our species originally emerged outside of Africa, before returning there.—
CBS News,
CBS News,
8 Jan. 2026
-
His resignation comes after last month's trial in which inflammatory texts Phelps sent during contentious revenue-sharing negotiations were revealed.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
7 Jan. 2026
Adjective
-
Venus fuses with combative Mars in your 3rd House of Communication, mixing tenderness with intensity and pushing for words that match actions.—
Tarot.com,
Baltimore Sun,
7 Jan. 2026
-
During her speech, Paulson shared a bunch of text messages Keaton had sent her over the years, all of which were at once warm and acerbic, kind and a playfully combative.—
Jon Blistein,
Rolling Stone,
5 Jan. 2026
Adjective
-
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
-
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 11 Jan. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share