CONFRONTATIONS Synonyms: 41 Similar and Opposite Words

confrontations

noun

plural of confrontation

as in rivalries

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 confrontations The war’s repercussions have spread across the Middle East, including conflict in Lebanon and confrontations involving Iran and the United States, while Israel faces a divisive election and questions over security failures. — Melanie Lidman, Los Angeles Times, 7 Oct. 2026 Three Colombian former soldiers were killed during the confrontations, including a co-leader of the squad. — Jacqueline Charles, Miami Herald, 7 Oct. 2026 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 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 Analysts say Lula and Bolsonaro have both conducted a strategy of avoiding direct confrontations on stage before the first round of voting. — ABC News, 1 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 He's been getting into confrontations at city halls and at police stations. — Joe Kinsey Outkick, FOXNews.com, 24 Sep. 2026 There are examples of ticket holders being ejected from games for confrontations with players. — Michael McCann, Sportico.com, 14 Sep. 2026

Recent Examples of Synonyms for confrontations

Noun

Then again, this is part of what makes college football rivalries so great.

— Austin Perry OutKick, FOXNews.com, 2 Oct. 2026
The Panthers and Broncos, who face off Friday for the 44th time in history, share one of the most storied rivalries in Georgia.

— Jack Leo, AJC.com, 2 Oct. 2026

Definition of rivalries

Noun

As 2016 neared, Thomas’ bandmates expected to reconvene for a 20th anniversary tour, however he was focused on 2015’s The Great Unknown, largely inspired by wife Marisol’s grueling health battles.

— Leena Tailor, Rolling Stone, 2 Oct. 2026
Paris — Students fought running battles with police and several schools were ablaze Friday as a new day of violence gripped France with no end in sight to protests that have rocked the country.

— Joseph Ataman, CNN Money, 2 Oct. 2026

Definition of battles

Noun

In defence, his lack of physicality is becoming more glaring in a Premier League that is leaning more heavily than ever into duels, second balls and set pieces.

— Liam Twomey, New York Times, 16 Sep. 2026
The noodles, the cheese, the topping, the consistency—duels have been fought over less.

— Josh Miller, Southern Living, 14 Sep. 2026

Definition of duels

Noun

Expectations around workload and external factors, including international conflicts and crises, are contributing to these heightened anxieties.

— Sam Birchall, Fortune, 8 Oct. 2026
Related Stories Set in Yunlin County on Taiwan’s southwest coast, the film follows two boys whose friendship comes under pressure as adult conflicts divide their community.

— Lin Ying-Hsuan, Variety, 7 Oct. 2026

Definition of conflicts

Noun

Vidio’s original slate now tops 110 series, and the platform carries more than 70 global and national sports competitions, among them Wimbledon, Formula 1 and MotoGP.

— Naman Ramachandran, Variety, 1 Oct. 2026
Jeff Richardson, the Galleria’s senior general manager, said Great Big Game Show is coming to the Galleria, bringing game-show-style competitions to Roseville.

— Nicole Buss, Sacbee.com, 1 Oct. 2026

Definition of competitions

Noun

To the extent these independent contentions were intended to imply that NBA rules permit teams, at the request of players, to initiate off-court income opportunities for players, that implication is incorrect.

— John Hollinger, New York Times, 3 Sep. 2026
Many healthcare policy analysts disagree with these contentions about fraud, noting partisan politics have now become part of the dissemination of government reports.

— Robert Applebaum, The Conversation, 18 Aug. 2026

Definition of contentions

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confrontational

confrontations

confronted

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

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Synonyms of confrontations

noun

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