as in rivalry
an earnest effort for superiority or victory over another
the softball rivals met in an epic confrontation on the last weekend of the summer
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of confrontation
Newsom has pushed back against the criticism, embracing the confrontation with Trump through interviews and public speeches.
—
Filip Timotija, The Hill, 15 June 2025
Until recently, Iran could rely on its terror puppets in Hezbollah and Hamas and Syria to attack Israel during a confrontation, but those puppets are all gone now, defanged and destroyed.
—New York Daily News Editorial Board, New York Daily News, 14 June 2025
Asked about the confrontation during the press conference, Noem initially criticized Padilla’s interruption, according to a livestream.
—Nik Popli, Time, 13 June 2025
Tensions between the Southeast Asian countries have soared since an armed confrontation in a border area on May 28 left one Cambodian soldier dead.
—Sopheng Cheang, Los Angeles Times, 13 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for confrontation
Filip Timotija, The Hill, 15 June 2025
Until recently, Iran could rely on its terror puppets in Hezbollah and Hamas and Syria to attack Israel during a confrontation, but those puppets are all gone now, defanged and destroyed.
—New York Daily News Editorial Board, New York Daily News, 14 June 2025
Asked about the confrontation during the press conference, Noem initially criticized Padilla’s interruption, according to a livestream.
—Nik Popli, Time, 13 June 2025
Tensions between the Southeast Asian countries have soared since an armed confrontation in a border area on May 28 left one Cambodian soldier dead.
—Sopheng Cheang, Los Angeles Times, 13 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for confrontation
Recent Examples of Synonyms for confrontation
Noun
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Rivals follows the rivalry between an old money MP, Rupert Campbell-Black (Alex Hassell) and Tony, Lord Baddingham (David Tennant), who clash over control of a fictional independent TV station in the 1980s.—
Jesse Whittock,
Deadline,
13 June 2025
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According to a report from TMZ Sports, the on-screen rivalry has become deeply personal.—
Andrew Ravens,
MSNBC Newsweek,
12 June 2025
Noun
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The two journalists paid tribute to the late MTV VJ, who died Wednesday following a prolonged battle with breast cancer, during a CNN segment on Thursday.—
Wesley Stenzel,
EW.com,
14 June 2025
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The ruling adds to a larger ongoing legal battle over a 90-year-old Supreme Court decision known as Humphrey’s Executor.—
Lea Skene,
Los Angeles Times,
13 June 2025
Noun
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Consumers are putting values first — even at a time of economic struggle.—
Alexandra Pastore,
Footwear News,
17 June 2025
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So are the novels, in the end, tragedies—narratives of the private toll of service in a noble struggle?—
Rav Grewal-Kök
June 16,
Literary Hub,
16 June 2025
Noun
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Above, a curious duel unfolded: a seagull clashing mid-air with a hovering drone.—
Lee Sharrock,
Forbes.com,
6 June 2025
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Both runners advanced on a wild pitch, but Ureña won a nine-pitch duel with Jeff McNeil, striking out the second baseman with a 97-mph sinker, and Smith picked off Marte at third to complete a rare home-to-third, strike-em-out, throw-em-out double play.—
Mike Digiovanna,
Oc Register,
5 June 2025
Noun
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Both vodkas have consistently earned medals in international spirit competitions.—
Joseph V Micallef,
Forbes.com,
10 June 2025
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Many prominent advocates for excluding transgender girls from sports praised Dhillon’s actions last week as a bold move to protect cisgender girls from unfair competition.—
Kevin Rector,
Los Angeles Times,
9 June 2025
Noun
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Bloody conflicts continued to occur throughout the 20th century.—
Kevin Giraud,
Variety,
7 June 2025
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Killer of Killers follows three warriors from different periods in history set against different Predator variants, using the tools of their time to take them on before a larger-scale conflict that will merge all the stories.—
Paul Tassi,
Forbes.com,
7 June 2025
Noun
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Across the border from Kursk, in Ukraine's northeastern Sumy region, Ukrainian soldiers who battled those soldiers described how the North Koreans went from suffering massive losses to learning electronic warfare.—
Joanna Kakissis,
NPR,
16 June 2025
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Radical, often foreign jihadists still make up a significant portion of the armed forces, ISIS is resurgent, former Assad loyalists remain dissatisfied, the economy is nonexistent from 13 years of warfare, and countless sectarian divisions threaten to rupture at any moment.—
Brady Knox,
The Washington Examiner,
15 June 2025
Noun
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Perfect Kyrie Irving Replacement Former NBA Lottery Pick Joining Rockets in Surprising Role: Report Jason Kidd Could Leave Mavericks For Sought-After HC Opening: Report Looking ahead to next season, the Lakers will need to make some offseason moves to get back into NBA Finals contention.—
Evan Massey,
MSNBC Newsweek,
7 June 2025
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As Newcastle’s style has developed and with Tonali excelling in a deeper midfield role, Longstaff has fallen out of contention.—
Chris Waugh,
New York Times,
6 June 2025
Cite this Entry
“Confrontation.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/confrontation. Accessed 21 Jun. 2025.
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