as in rivalries
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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Recent Examples of confrontations
Multiple reports had been filed against Chow after other confrontations with customers, officials previously said.
—
Jeanine Santucci, USA Today, 2 June 2026
The confrontations result in wild, libidinous killing.
—Doreen St. Félix, New Yorker, 1 June 2026
Recently, two Ebola treatment centers in eastern Congo were burned by angry residents during confrontations over burial restrictions and distrust of authorities.
—Steve Brozak, Forbes.com, 25 May 2026
A lot of the apparatus of the modern presidency exists to force confrontations with unwelcome realities.
—David Frum, The Atlantic, 24 May 2026
Their accounts, including confrontations with far-right security minister Itamar Ben-Gvir, have drawn international condemnation and diplomatic protests; Israeli prison officials dismiss the allegations as baseless as hundreds of activists are deported.
—Los Angeles Times, 22 May 2026
The former on-track rivals frequently sparred and had confrontations with one another dating back to nearly 20 years ago, stemming from Busch leaving Hendrick Motorsports in 2007 and Earnhardt taking his car.
—Anna Lazarus Caplan, PEOPLE, 22 May 2026
This week’s quiz spotlights country stars and celebrity confrontations.
—Danielle Minnetian, FOXNews.com, 16 May 2026
Critics, including humanitarian groups, say the arrangement has fueled tensions with rescue organizations and exposed migrants to abuse when they are intercepted and returned to Libya, while also leading to confrontations between Libyan patrols and NGO vessels.
—ABC News, 11 May 2026
Jeanine Santucci, USA Today, 2 June 2026
The confrontations result in wild, libidinous killing.
—Doreen St. Félix, New Yorker, 1 June 2026
Recently, two Ebola treatment centers in eastern Congo were burned by angry residents during confrontations over burial restrictions and distrust of authorities.
—Steve Brozak, Forbes.com, 25 May 2026
A lot of the apparatus of the modern presidency exists to force confrontations with unwelcome realities.
—David Frum, The Atlantic, 24 May 2026
Their accounts, including confrontations with far-right security minister Itamar Ben-Gvir, have drawn international condemnation and diplomatic protests; Israeli prison officials dismiss the allegations as baseless as hundreds of activists are deported.
—Los Angeles Times, 22 May 2026
The former on-track rivals frequently sparred and had confrontations with one another dating back to nearly 20 years ago, stemming from Busch leaving Hendrick Motorsports in 2007 and Earnhardt taking his car.
—Anna Lazarus Caplan, PEOPLE, 22 May 2026
This week’s quiz spotlights country stars and celebrity confrontations.
—Danielle Minnetian, FOXNews.com, 16 May 2026
Critics, including humanitarian groups, say the arrangement has fueled tensions with rescue organizations and exposed migrants to abuse when they are intercepted and returned to Libya, while also leading to confrontations between Libyan patrols and NGO vessels.
—ABC News, 11 May 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for confrontations
Noun
-
The narrative tracks Maurício (Reymond), a retired player striving to establish a new career as an agent in the aggressive football business while managing industry rivalries, family tensions, and the legacy of his past disappointments.—
Max Goldbart,
Deadline,
4 June 2026
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The diary was still treated primarily as evidence of motive, evidence about the boys, their rivalries, their jealousy, their emotional states.—
Kate Casey,
Vanity Fair,
2 June 2026
Noun
-
Staal’s still elite at winning defensive zone puck battles, which helps tee up Ehlers to play to his strengths and gives the Canes an all-three-zone impact in their minutes that has added up to a 66 percent xG rate.—
Shayna Goldman,
New York Times,
2 June 2026
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Calvert shares similar views and has survived an ethics complaint and two previous redistricting battles during his 33 years in Congress.—
Terry Collins,
USA Today,
2 June 2026
Noun
-
Ohtani was back to a full starter’s workload for the first time since 2023, even mentioning fatigue in his postgame interview after his second start of the season, and before games was working to address his offensive struggles.—
Maddie Lee,
Los Angeles Times,
4 June 2026
-
Wembanyama finished with 26 points, 12 rebounds and three blocks in the loss but downplayed any worries about the team’s struggles after the game.—
Jacob Lev,
CNN Money,
4 June 2026
Noun
-
Strength in duels – ground and aerial.—
Sebastian Stafford-Bloor,
New York Times,
29 May 2026
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LaBonta completed 23 of 29 passes from the middle of the park, put in four tackles, made two interceptions and two ball recoveries, and won five of her eight duels with players, all while avoiding committing a single foul.—
Daniel Sperry,
Kansas City Star,
27 May 2026
Noun
-
The chain of islands has become critical to Japan’s defense in the event of armed conflicts between China and Taiwan.—
Wayne Chang,
CNN Money,
3 June 2026
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During a Metropolitan Public Transportation Authority meeting in March, that officer, Eric Osnes, said his team now studies footage of assaults on drivers to learn lessons that may mitigate future conflicts.—
Caitlin McGlade,
Charlotte Observer,
2 June 2026
Noun
-
Pressure is a privilege and, in our case, the players took those competitions seriously.—
Zach McMahon,
Boston Herald,
29 May 2026
-
The 23-year-old has performed when called upon in the cup competitions and was expected, before Donnarumma’s sudden arrival, to compete to be a starting Premier League goalkeeper.—
Cerys Jones,
New York Times,
29 May 2026
Noun
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Nowhere is this reconciliation more evident than in the enduring contentions surrounding France’s Pacific territory of New Caledonia, also known as Kanak by its native community.—
Wesley Alexander Hill,
Forbes.com,
22 May 2026
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The main contentions were the state not fully funding public schools according to the state’s funding formula and an additional $10 million to support the Missouri Scholars Program, which can go toward students in private schools.—
Jack Harvel,
Kansas City Star,
7 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Confrontations.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/confrontations. Accessed 10 Jun. 2026.
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