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
In August, Kelley was arrested and charged with three misdemeanors — one for electronic communications harassment and two for electronic disclosure of personal identifying information — following days of apparent confrontational social media posts allegedly doxxing her friends and family members.
—
Julia Moore, PEOPLE, 30 Sep. 2025
The equanimity in Wear’s presentation was a stark contrast to Charlie Kirk’s confrontational style.
—Michael Luo, New Yorker, 28 Sep. 2025
So far, the Kremlin’s reaction to the accords has been cool and dismissive rather than openly confrontational.
—Thomas De Waal, Foreign Affairs, 22 Sep. 2025
Despite his confrontational reputation, Biglari notably avoids media coverage and has not in recent years participated in interviews.
—Lily Mae Lazarus, Fortune, 18 Sep. 2025
His confrontational style inspired a generation of young conservatives to assertively defend their values and to mock liberals, even in sometimes incendiary ways.
—Phillip M. Bailey, USA Today, 18 Sep. 2025
In the last nine months, Carr has taken a confrontational stance with the traditional media business.
—Kevin Collier, NBC news, 18 Sep. 2025
But when pressure hits, when the meeting turns confrontational, the market shifts, or a decision must be made in seconds, logic is often too slow.
—Aslak De Silva, Forbes.com, 18 Sep. 2025
When Fusco makes work — confrontational performances, videos, photography, writing — she’s not driven by an urge to self-document.
—Madeline Leung Coleman, Vulture, 18 Sep. 2025
Julia Moore, PEOPLE, 30 Sep. 2025
The equanimity in Wear’s presentation was a stark contrast to Charlie Kirk’s confrontational style.
—Michael Luo, New Yorker, 28 Sep. 2025
So far, the Kremlin’s reaction to the accords has been cool and dismissive rather than openly confrontational.
—Thomas De Waal, Foreign Affairs, 22 Sep. 2025
Despite his confrontational reputation, Biglari notably avoids media coverage and has not in recent years participated in interviews.
—Lily Mae Lazarus, Fortune, 18 Sep. 2025
His confrontational style inspired a generation of young conservatives to assertively defend their values and to mock liberals, even in sometimes incendiary ways.
—Phillip M. Bailey, USA Today, 18 Sep. 2025
In the last nine months, Carr has taken a confrontational stance with the traditional media business.
—Kevin Collier, NBC news, 18 Sep. 2025
But when pressure hits, when the meeting turns confrontational, the market shifts, or a decision must be made in seconds, logic is often too slow.
—Aslak De Silva, Forbes.com, 18 Sep. 2025
When Fusco makes work — confrontational performances, videos, photography, writing — she’s not driven by an urge to self-document.
—Madeline Leung Coleman, Vulture, 18 Sep. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for confrontational
Adjective
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Sell assets for picks and cap space and attack an aggressive rebuild this offseason.—
Paul Dehner Jr,
New York Times,
6 Oct. 2025
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Control an aggressive infestation with a preemergent herbicide applied in late summer before chickweed seeds germinate.—
Megan Hughes,
Better Homes & Gardens,
4 Oct. 2025
Adjective
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As such, the political and militant body – which has governed the territory since June 2007 – will need to be in a desperate situation to accept the terms.—
Asher Kaufman,
The Conversation,
30 Sep. 2025
-
Trump’s peace plan has backed Hamas into a corner, leaving the militant group to face an existential dilemma.—
Oren Liebermann,
CNN Money,
30 Sep. 2025
Adjective
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Tampa is heading into a hostile environment against a feisty Seattle Seahawks team that matches them with a 3-1 record.—
Josh Buckhalter,
MSNBC Newsweek,
3 Oct. 2025
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Republicans, traditionally seen as more hostile to government, are often viewed as the shutdown aggressors.—
W. James Antle III,
The Washington Examiner,
2 Oct. 2025
Adjective
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China began conducting the contentious patrols after a February 2024 accident in which two Chinese fishermen drowned near Kinmen while fleeing from Taiwan’s coast guard.—
Micah McCartney,
MSNBC Newsweek,
1 Oct. 2025
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Appointing James Bunce as performance director, having worked with him before at Monaco, was arguably the best decision of Mitchell’s short — and contentious — tenure.—
George Caulkin,
New York Times,
1 Oct. 2025
Adjective
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But with a combative Trump questioning the very purpose of the UN at his speech before the General Assembly, Beijing has an international audience that may be more receptive to its overtures.—
JEFFREY PRESCOTT,
Foreign Affairs,
29 Sep. 2025
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Neither can throw, and Colelman, who is eager and combative, handles outside curveballs like a man fighting bees.—
Patrick Saunders,
Denver Post,
28 Sep. 2025
Adjective
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But attorney Gabi Silver, who previously represented one of the men in the original case before Hartig, said the judge made the appropriate call for a low-level, non-assaultive felony case against a client with no prior criminal record.—
Darcie Moran,
Freep.com,
30 Aug. 2025
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The record indicates that the instant offense has elements of brutality, violence, assaultive behavior or conscious selection of victim's vulnerability indicating a conscious disregard for the lives, safety, or property of others, such that the offender poses a continuing threat to public safety.—
Ron Estes,
MSNBC Newsweek,
29 Mar. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Confrontational.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/confrontational. Accessed 8 Oct. 2025.
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