CONFRONTATION Synonyms: 41 Similar and Opposite Words

confrontation

noun

ˌkän-(ˌ)frən-ˈtā-shən

Definition of confrontation

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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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.

Recent Examples of confrontation Cooper, 28, was arrested on June 4 following an argument and physical confrontation with his then-girlfriend that eventually resulted in a felony assault charge of strangulation. — ABC News, 30 Aug. 2026 The charges arose from what police described as a physical confrontation between Jacobs and his girlfriend. — Steve Megargee, Chicago Tribune, 30 Aug. 2026 Iran has not recovered from the war, and its leaders have not become indifferent to the risks of another military confrontation. — Hamidreza Azizi, Time, 29 Aug. 2026 In 1988, 27-year-old Japanese American graphic artist Karen Toshima was killed by a stray bullet during a gang confrontation on Broxton Avenue, shocking Angelenos who had treated gun violence as a problem largely confined to poor parts of the city. — Alison Foreman, IndieWire, 28 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for confrontation

Recent Examples of Synonyms for confrontation

Noun

Nattie challenged Jaida Parker to a submission match for Heatwave as their rivalry turned up a notch.

— Ryan Gaydos OutKick, FOXNews.com, 29 Aug. 2026
The handlers may represent rival schools, but those rivalries tend to stop at the kennel, pasture or habitat gate, especially when another mascot is sick, retiring or in need of support.

— Lauren Paige Richeson, USA Today, 28 Aug. 2026

Definition of rivalry

Noun

The only intrigue at offensive line was the backup center battle between Hudson and Patrick.

— Dan Duggan, New York Times, 31 Aug. 2026
Naturally, with three more Salt Lake City wives at the Alter Ego Party, Gizelle is ready to further investigate why Lisa is in a battle with her whole cast.

— Tom Smyth, Vulture, 31 Aug. 2026

Definition of battle

Noun

While Craig will get most of the attention, TCU’s revamped offensive line also had its struggles throughout the day.

— Steven Johnson, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 30 Aug. 2026
Those struggles have become increasingly difficult for the Blue Jays to ignore as the season has progressed.

— Peter Chawaga, Forbes.com, 30 Aug. 2026

Definition of struggle

Noun

Combined with recent updates across several companies in the AI industry, the AI competition appears to have entered a new phase centered on cost-efficiency.

— , CNBC, 28 Aug. 2026
Horse racing revenue in Illinois had been dwindling for years due to competition from casinos, the lottery, and video and sports gambling.

— Robert McCoppin, Chicago Tribune, 28 Aug. 2026

Definition of competition

Noun

Also, Napoli will host Como in a duel between Champions League participants.

— ABC News, ABC News, 30 Aug. 2026
If both top closers have to do more or less the same thing, namely, stay in contention, arguably what has to happen here for either to hit the wire first, then the next question is, who wins in a stretch duel.

— Guy Martin, Forbes.com, 29 Aug. 2026

Definition of duel

Noun

Meanwhile, outside the five districts that Democrats hope to switch, there are safely Democratic districts where progressive candidates are jousting with mainstream rivals, a subset of the national party’s ideological conflict.

— Dan Walters, Mercury News, 25 Aug. 2026
Add to this the conflict in the Middle East driving up gas prices, and the macroeconomic backdrop to back-to-school shopping is hardly optimal.

— Joe Bobowicz, Vogue, 25 Aug. 2026

Definition of conflict

Noun

The legal challenge intensified an unusually public dispute over how AI can be used in warfare and mass surveillance.

— Kaitlyn Huamani, Fortune, 28 Aug. 2026
Rather than designing an entirely new robotic counter-drone vehicle, the companies combined an existing robotic platform with an existing sensing and electronic warfare capability.

— Kaif Shaikh, Interesting Engineering, 28 Aug. 2026

Definition of warfare

Noun

Alongside analysts and external observers warning that Russia’s full-scale invasion could soon enter a more dangerous phase, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has said that Russian President Vladimir Putin is preparing to escalate the war.

— Sam Meredith, CNBC, 27 Aug. 2026
Iran is expanding its defense capabilities, an Iranian army commander said Wednesday, after much of the country’s equipment was degraded by US-Israeli strikes in the early days of the war.

— Mustafa Qadri, CNN Money, 26 Aug. 2026

Definition of war

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confrontation

confrontational

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“Confrontation.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/confrontation. Accessed 2 Sep. 2026.

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Synonyms of confrontation

noun

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