confrontation

noun

con·​fron·​ta·​tion ˌkän-(ˌ)frən-ˈtā-shən 

: the act of confronting : the state of being confronted: such as

a

: a face-to-face meeting

a confrontation between the suspect and the victim

b

: the clashing of forces or ideas : conflict

a violent confrontation between rival gangs

c

: comparison

The flashbacks bring into meaningful confrontation present and past, near and far.

—R. J. Clements

confrontational

ˌkän-(ˌ)frən-ˈtā-sh(ə-)nəl 

adjective

confrontationalist

ˌkän-(ˌ)frən-ˈtā-sh(ə-)nə-list 

noun

confrontationist

ˌkän-(ˌ)frən-ˈtā-sh(ə-)nist 

noun or adjective

Synonyms of confrontation

• rivalry
• battle
• struggle
• competition
• duel
• conflict
• warfare
• war
• contention

Examples of confrontation in a Sentence

There were several violent confrontations between rival gangs.

He would prefer not to have a confrontation with the authorities.

a series of confrontations between residents and police

We want cooperation, not confrontation.

We seek to avoid military confrontation at all costs.

Recent Examples on the Web

As the confrontation escalated, a second boat connected to Simpson, a 39-foot Contender vessel, arrived on scene with a group of lobster divers and also anchored 10 feet from Del Sol's vessel, the arrest affidavit alleges. — Bill Hutchinson, ABC News, 7 Aug. 2026

Research describes it as a way to cut a connection while avoiding the confrontation and drama of a hard block. — Jason Walker Psyd, Forbes.com, 6 Aug. 2026

Prosecutors said that a confrontation developed between Levi and some of the villagers who had gathered to stop the backhoe by throwing stones. — Kara Fox, CNN Money, 6 Aug. 2026

An officer with the New Kensington Police Department is on leave and under investigation after a violent confrontation with a suspect who ended up in the hospital with serious facial injuries. — Andy Sheehan, CBS News, 6 Aug. 2026

Word History

Etymology

see confront

First Known Use

1632, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing confrontation

• self-confrontation

Rhymes for confrontation

• abdication
• aberration
• abjuration
• abnegation
• abrogation
• acceptation
• acclamation
• acclimation
• accusation
• activation
• actuation
• acylation