confrontation

noun

con·​fron·​ta·​tion ˌkän-(ˌ)frən-ˈtā-shən How to pronounce confrontation (audio)
: 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 adjective
confrontationist noun or adjective

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
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Zach Bryan and Gavin Adcock were involved in a heated confrontation that nearly turned physical at the Born & Raised Festival in Pryor, Oklahoma. Mitchell Peters, Billboard, 14 Sep. 2025 Direct confrontation during an emotional high can intensify instability. Mark Travers, Forbes.com, 13 Sep. 2025 Some say the confrontations are not isolated, but part of a wider cycle of fear and resistance that is expected to intensify as operations expand. Sydney Barragan, Oc Register, 13 Sep. 2025 While his viral confrontations often featured sharp rebuttals to liberal students, Kirk maintained that his goal was to foster serious consideration of conservative ideas among the next generation. Amanda Castro joshua Rhett Miller, MSNBC Newsweek, 12 Sep. 2025 See All Example Sentences for confrontation

Word History

Etymology

see confront

First Known Use

1632, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of confrontation was in 1632

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Confrontation.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/confrontation. Accessed 16 Sep. 2025.

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