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

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Example Sentences

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 Because China’s system is tightly controlled, its descent into personalistic one-man rule does not play out in divisive confrontations on television or erratic social media rants by the top leader. — Carl Minzner, Foreign Affairs, 5 Oct. 2026 Prosecutors argued Martin and Payton were armed gang members who participated in a confrontation with rivals that erupted into gunfire on a crowded downtown street as nightclubs closed. — Daniel Hunt, Sacbee.com, 3 Oct. 2026 His emphasis on fighting crime, his anti-left agenda and his confrontations with the Supreme Federal Court and Brazil’s political establishment directly appeal to issues that have mobilized Bolsonaro’s base for years. — Alessandra Freitas, CNN Money, 2 Oct. 2026 Counter-demonstrations only serve to foster angry confrontations that turn the protest into a larger event. — Chris Roemer, Baltimore Sun, 1 Oct. 2026 See All Example Sentences for confrontation

Recent Examples of Synonyms for confrontation

Noun

Matt Damon and Jimmy Kimmel, who ripped off their rivalry bit from Fred Allen and Jack Benny!

— Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 1 Oct. 2026
At least for one day, one of the league’s great rivalries returns — with Kansas City remaining undefeated into its early bye.

— Pete Sweeney October 1, Kansas City Star, 1 Oct. 2026

Definition of rivalry

Noun

Chinese media reported that PLA forces deployed Type 99A main battle tanks alongside drones, uncrewed ground vehicles and helicopters.

— Bojan Stojkovski, Interesting Engineering, 4 Oct. 2026
Alabama and Mississippi State battle, and Underdog is offering new users a chance to use promo code FOXNEWS to earn up to $100 in bonus bets on a $5 wager.

— OutKick, FOXNews.com, 3 Oct. 2026

Definition of battle

Noun

Both residents and politicians fear the court ruling would tarnish Kosovo's independence struggle.

— Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 2 Oct. 2026
Evidence at the crime scene led investigators to believe there had likely been a struggle between Feldman and her killer leading up her death, suggesting that Feldman had fought hard.

— Megan Fahrney, ABC News, 2 Oct. 2026

Definition of struggle

Noun

Decisions about industrial policy, infrastructure, public spending, and competition increasingly have to account not only for emissions but climate risk.

— Justin Worland, Time, 3 Oct. 2026
But could Cruise use his movie star promotion power to get himself into the best-actor Oscar competition, despite the film suffering from tepid reviews and a possibly paltry box office?

— Rebecca Ford, Vanity Fair, 2 Oct. 2026

Definition of competition

Noun

And in the second half, the game turned into a duel between standout QBs each making his sixth college start.

— PJ Green September 27, Kansas City Star, 27 Sep. 2026
Othani, who has won four MVP awards in five seasons, including one with the Los Angeles Angels, was considered the MVP front-runner most of the season, until the duel in the sun changed things.

— Paul Sullivan, Chicago Tribune, 25 Sep. 2026

Definition of duel

Noun

With the whizbang action long in the series’ rearview, this quiet road trip proves its emotional centerpiece, as Noah confesses both his true nature and his desire to be better — the conflict of his programming.

— Siddhant Adlakha, Vulture, 5 Oct. 2026
The decision marks a dramatic reversal, after Ethiopian and Eritrean forces united in fighting the TPLF during the previous conflict.

— Jeronimo Gonzalez, semafor.com, 5 Oct. 2026

Definition of conflict

Noun

Gallium nitride, on the other hand, is suited to high-frequency applications, including communications equipment, radar and electronic warfare systems.

— Neetika Walter, Interesting Engineering, 7 Oct. 2026
For the first few years of the war in Ukraine, Russia’s hybrid warfare attacks in Europe remained just below the threshold that might trigger a collective response.

— Julianne Smith, Foreign Affairs, 7 Oct. 2026

Definition of warfare

Noun

Whether the military was properly prepared for treating its wounded in the current Iran war has become a sharp point of contention.

— Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 6 Oct. 2026
Dima Putiata, the former Ukrainian soldier, says what started in this war has already spread to other conflicts.

— Greg Myre, NPR, 5 Oct. 2026

Definition of war

Browse Nearby Words

confront

confrontation

confrontational

See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

Style

“Confrontation.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/confrontation. Accessed 9 Oct. 2026.

Copy Citation

Synonyms of confrontation

noun

Example Sentences

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

inscrutable

Popular in Grammar & Usage

Do You Need a New Language Peeve?

The Exceptions of '-s' and '-es' Plurals

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

Is it 'nerve-racking' or 'nerve-wracking'?

What's the difference between 'fascism' and 'socialism'?

Popular in Wordplay

The Real Origin of 'Supercalifragilistic'

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

7 Words for Bad Endings and Rough Situations

The Words of the Week - Oct. 9

Even More Bird Names that Sound Like Insults (and Sometimes Are)

Popular

Do You Need a New Language Peeve?

The Real Origin of 'Supercalifragilistic'

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

Games & Quizzes