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
Mary, who was just finishing up undergrad at NYU herself, responded to a casting-call flyer Ron posted and slipped into the role with the confrontational zeal of a creative soul mate.
—
Alison Willmore, Vulture, 4 Mar. 2026
The clash mirrors a broader fight within the Democratic Party, as progressive candidates push for a more confrontational stance toward Israel’s government and more moderate lawmakers warn against alienating pro-Israel voters and donors.
—Olivia Olander, Chicago Tribune, 3 Mar. 2026
The rematch reflects growing frustration with Foushee among younger, left-leaning voters who view her as insufficiently confrontational, particularly on Israel and outside political spending, in one of the safest Democratic districts in the country.
—Rachel Schilke, The Washington Examiner, 2 Mar. 2026
The solution would be to figure out smart and non-confrontational ways to survive.
—Sergio Pereira, Space.com, 27 Feb. 2026
Recently, however, the debate has turned confrontational—particularly between the White House and the nonpartisan Committee for a Responsible Federal Budget.
—Eleanor Pringle, Fortune, 26 Feb. 2026
The crude and confrontational approach was a central part of the message and has become a dominant aspect of the broader anti-Trump effort during his second term.
—Toluse Olorunnipa, The Atlantic, 25 Feb. 2026
Oversize, sculptural pieces took on a confrontational feeling of armor.
—Thomas Waller, Footwear News, 19 Feb. 2026
For more than six decades the Reverend Jesse Jackson stood as a towering figure, straddling the racial justice movement in America and mainstream party politics, bridging the civil rights struggle of the 1960s with the dramatically more confrontational Black Lives Matter campaign.
—Jimmie Briggs, Vanity Fair, 17 Feb. 2026
Alison Willmore, Vulture, 4 Mar. 2026
The clash mirrors a broader fight within the Democratic Party, as progressive candidates push for a more confrontational stance toward Israel’s government and more moderate lawmakers warn against alienating pro-Israel voters and donors.
—Olivia Olander, Chicago Tribune, 3 Mar. 2026
The rematch reflects growing frustration with Foushee among younger, left-leaning voters who view her as insufficiently confrontational, particularly on Israel and outside political spending, in one of the safest Democratic districts in the country.
—Rachel Schilke, The Washington Examiner, 2 Mar. 2026
The solution would be to figure out smart and non-confrontational ways to survive.
—Sergio Pereira, Space.com, 27 Feb. 2026
Recently, however, the debate has turned confrontational—particularly between the White House and the nonpartisan Committee for a Responsible Federal Budget.
—Eleanor Pringle, Fortune, 26 Feb. 2026
The crude and confrontational approach was a central part of the message and has become a dominant aspect of the broader anti-Trump effort during his second term.
—Toluse Olorunnipa, The Atlantic, 25 Feb. 2026
Oversize, sculptural pieces took on a confrontational feeling of armor.
—Thomas Waller, Footwear News, 19 Feb. 2026
For more than six decades the Reverend Jesse Jackson stood as a towering figure, straddling the racial justice movement in America and mainstream party politics, bridging the civil rights struggle of the 1960s with the dramatically more confrontational Black Lives Matter campaign.
—Jimmie Briggs, Vanity Fair, 17 Feb. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for confrontational
Adjective
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While their offer was aggressive, the deal wasn’t done in a numbers vacuum.—
Andreas Wiseman,
Deadline,
9 Mar. 2026
-
Slater had been particularly aggressive against Big Tech companies during her tenure.—
Allie Canal,
NBC news,
9 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
Frontiers are already porous here, crossed by smuggling routes, refugee trails and militant hideouts.—
Mihir Sharma,
Twin Cities,
8 Mar. 2026
-
Among the most prominent Islamic militant groups are Boko Haram and its breakaway faction, known as Islamic State West Africa Province.—
Dyepkazah Shibayan,
Los Angeles Times,
7 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
Handling a hostile environment Texas coach Jim Schlossnagle said his team knew what to expect from Bobcat Ballpark.—
Caleb Yum,
Austin American Statesman,
11 Mar. 2026
-
Brasília was built from scratch, in the middle of nowhere, in the hostile climate of the Cerrado—a savanna-like biome—hundreds of miles from any highway, railway, or airport.—
Sophia La Banca,
JSTOR Daily,
11 Mar. 2026
Adjective
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On the other side of this contentious disagreement is the developer, who said there is demand for new housing, and the wastewater facility is a safe and necessary component to facilitate growth.—
Matthew Adams,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
12 Mar. 2026
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Associations embroiled in contentious disputes should seek guidance from qualified attorneys and other professionals to help find negotiated resolutions.—
Awilda Esteras,
Miami Herald,
12 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
The estate via the combative Branca, who is portrayed by Miles Teller in the heavily authorized (to put it very, very politely) Michael, has fought back in the courts against Paris Jackson’s actions.—
Dominic Patten,
Deadline,
11 Mar. 2026
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That’s because his electability quotient is low, given his past scandals and combative style.—
Laura Washington,
Chicago Tribune,
11 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
Unlawful activity including blocking roads, intentionally creating hazards and assaultive behavior will not be tolerated.—
Sophia Compton,
FOXNews.com,
2 Mar. 2026
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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
Cite this Entry
“Confrontational.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/confrontational. Accessed 13 Mar. 2026.
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