confront

[kuh n-fruhnt]

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR confront ON THESAURUS.COM

verb (used with object)

to face in hostility or defiance; oppose: The feuding factions confronted one another.

to present for acknowledgment, contradiction, etc.; set face to face: They confronted him with evidence of his crime.

to stand or come in front of; stand or meet facing: The two long-separated brothers confronted each other speechlessly.

to be in one's way: the numerous obstacles that still confronted him.

to bring together for examination or comparison.

Origin of confront

1595–1605; < Medieval Latin confrontārī, equivalent to Latin con- con- + -frontārī, derivative of Latin frōns forehead, front

Related formscon·front·al, con·front·ment, nouncon·front·er, nounre·con·front, verb (used with object)un·con·front·ed, adjective

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Related Words for confront

defy, resist, accost, repel, oppose, meet, encounter, withstand, brave, affront, flout, scorn, front, dare, beard

Examples from the Web for confront

Contemporary Examples of confront

After the six-week training, the forces will be deployed to confront the Islamic State, officials said.
Pentagon Insider on New Plan to Fight ISIS: ‘Of Course It’s Not Enough’
Nancy A. Youssef
January 6, 2015
Counter-protestors marched to confront the pro-police contingent, separated by barricades and uniformed officers.
NYC’s Garner Protesters vs. Pro-Cop Protesters
Jacob Siegel
December 20, 2014
This was the first of the series of her fears that Sabrina had to confront.
How A Muslim Dad Reacted To His Daughter Coming Out
Moral Courage
November 21, 2014
Conservatives have made clear they want Republican leaders to use the December deadline to confront the president on immigration.
The Coming GOP Freakout Over Immigration
Patricia Murphy
November 20, 2014
No matter what adversity or fear we may confront, we are always inherently free to choose how to be.
How One Lawsuit Shows What’s Wrong With America
James Poulos
October 20, 2014

Historical Examples of confront

Those that confront us now are as momentous as any in the past.
United States Presidents' Inaugural Speeches
Various
The Duke of Lerma, infirm and enfeebled by years, was unable to confront his foes.
Calderon The Courtier
Edward Bulwer-Lytton
Our eyes are shut to the damning facts which confront us on every side.
The Truth About Woman
C. Gasquoine Hartley
We could not confront the gaze of Beauty with great rents in our shirts.
Brighter Britain! (Volume 1 of 2)
William Delisle Hay
My brain was numb, but I did my best to confront the new situation that was before me.
The Woman Thou Gavest Me
Hall Caine

British Dictionary definitions for confront

confront

verb (tr)

(usually foll by with) to present or face (with something), esp in order to accuse or criticize

to face boldly; oppose in hostility

to be face to face with; be in front of

to bring together for comparison

Derived Formsconfronter, noun

Word Origin for confront

C16: from Medieval Latin confrontārī to stand face to face with, from frons forehead

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Word Origin and History for confront

1560s, "to stand in front of," from Middle French confronter (15c.), from Medieval Latin confrontare "assign limits, adjoin," from Latin com- "together" (see com-) + frontem (nominative frons) "forehead" (see front (n.)). Sense of "to face in defiance or hostility" is late 16c. Related: Confronted; confronting.