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
R. J. ClementsExamples 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
Bowman's confrontation with police came 20 years after his father was fatally shot by officers while holding a gun during a mental health episode at the family home.
—Arkansas Online, 13 Dec. 2025
The Salvadoran man was mistakenly deported earlier this year, prompting a fraught legal battle that has included tense confrontations between the judge and the Justice Department.
—Alexandra Banner, CNN Money, 12 Dec. 2025
Following a heated confrontation where Paul slapped Punk across the face, the rivalry intensified with Punk retaliating by trapping Paul's ally, Pat McAfee, in a porta-potty.
—Andrew Ravens, MSNBC Newsweek, 11 Dec. 2025
In that confrontation, federal agents also deployed chemical irritants on demonstrators.
—Stephen Swanson, CBS News, 11 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for confrontation
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Arkansas Online, 13 Dec. 2025
The Salvadoran man was mistakenly deported earlier this year, prompting a fraught legal battle that has included tense confrontations between the judge and the Justice Department.
—Alexandra Banner, CNN Money, 12 Dec. 2025
Following a heated confrontation where Paul slapped Punk across the face, the rivalry intensified with Punk retaliating by trapping Paul's ally, Pat McAfee, in a porta-potty.
—Andrew Ravens, MSNBC Newsweek, 11 Dec. 2025
In that confrontation, federal agents also deployed chemical irritants on demonstrators.
—Stephen Swanson, CBS News, 11 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for confrontation
Cite this Entry
“Confrontation.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/confrontation. Accessed 19 Dec. 2025.
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