confront
Americanverb (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 face and deal with boldly or directly.
The city refuses to confront the real reason for the housing shortage.
-
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.
verb
-
(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
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Inflected Forms
Participles
Conjugated Forms
Present
-
confrontsimple
-
confrontssimple
-
have confrontedperfect
-
has confrontedperfect
-
am confrontingprogressive
-
are confrontingprogressive
-
is confrontingprogressive
-
have been confrontingperfect progressive
-
has been confrontingperfect progressive
Past
-
confrontedsimple
-
had confrontedperfect
-
was confrontingprogressive
-
were confrontingprogressive
-
had been confrontingperfect progressive
Future
Etymology
Origin of confront
First recorded in 1595–1605; from Medieval Latin confrontārī, equivalent to Latin con-, variant of intensive prefix com- + -frontārī, derivative of Latin frōns (stem front- ) “forehead”; see origin at con-, front
Explanation
Confront means either to face a situation that makes you uncomfortable, or to say something to someone about something they've done that bothers you. Rather than letting things go, when people are rude to you you should confront them. Confront derives from the Latin con- "with" and -front "front." You can confront a sad truth, you can confront a person by calling them on their behavior, you can confront someone with the fact that they have terrible breath. You can be confronted, too—on the trip through the mountains, we were confronted by the impassibility of the road.
Vocabulary lists containing confront
The Bill of Rights
Looking to grow your vocabulary? Check out this interactive, curated word list from our team of English language specialists at Vocabulary.com – one of over 17,000 lists we've built to help learners worldwide!
"Everyday Use" by Alice Walker
Interested in learning more words like this one? Our team at Vocabulary.com has got you covered! You can review flashcards, quiz yourself, practice spelling, and more – and it's all completely free to use!
Twelve Days in May
Want to remember this word for good? Start your learning journey today with our library of interactive, themed word lists built by the experts at Vocabulary.com – we'll help you make the most of your study time!
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
See Examples For:
Sitting judges arguably have the best informed perspective on this Supreme Court: They must apply its jurisprudence, reconcile its contradictions, and confront the real-world effects of its rulings.
From Slate ● Jul. 17, 2026
Anyway, when the couple angrily strides across the street to confront Max, we’re supposed to be in their corner.
From Salon ● Jul. 17, 2026
Beg said he then decided to "confront them with part of that anti-racism Glasgow spirit".
From BBC ● Jul. 15, 2026
Gov. Kathy Hochul is banning large data-center construction for up to a year, making New York the latest state to confront the rollout of sites powering the artificial-intelligence boom.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 14, 2026
Ned did not yet confront Julia with his suspicions.
From "The Devil in the White City" by Erik Larson
Richemont reported an acceleration in sales growth for its most recent quarter at a time when the luxury industry confronts challenging market conditions due to economic and geopolitical instability.
From The Wall Street Journal ● May 22, 2026
On “Never Be the Same,” Thompson confronts his resistance to change, whether it be during a relationship or in its aftermath.
From Salon ● May 15, 2026
In “Exit the King,” he confronts the insupportable reality of death with the same madcap delirium of his better known works, such as “The Bald Soprano,” “The Chairs” and “Rhinoceros.”
From Los Angeles Times ● May 13, 2026
But it is also now true that the arithmetic and sentiment the prime minister confronts are bleak and getting darker.
From BBC ● May 12, 2026
However, the recent development of resistance to these insecticides confronts the exterminators with the problem of where to go next.
From "Silent Spring" by Rachel Carson
Gomez meanwhile said that while Maradona was seen as a revolutionary who confronted FIFA's power, current narratives perceive Messi as FIFA's "golden boy."
From Barron's ● Jul. 18, 2026
When confronted by Helen, after she became suspicious, he admitted he was not a pilot, but said he had wanted to impress her.
From BBC ● Jul. 15, 2026
Federal courts have recently confronted the limits of analogous industry-led regulators, but the issue remains unsettled.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 10, 2026
But he didn’t realize that—and there’s a great deal of pressure to comply, when you are confronted with law enforcement questioning your parenting, to show that you have nothing to hide.
From Slate ● Jul. 7, 2026
She trembled like a calf confronted with a leopard.
From "A Girl Named Disaster" by Nancy Farmer
As the stock market alternatively displays the grace of a boxer and the oafishness of a drunkard, investors are once more confronting that which they fear most: volatility.
From Barron's ● Jul. 1, 2026
Getting a read on the new Fed chairman is just one of the challenges confronting investors.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jun. 30, 2026
"Kuwaiti air defenses are currently confronting hostile missile and drone attacks," the Kuwaiti Armed Forces said in a statement shared to X, asking the public to adhere to security instructions.
From BBC ● Jun. 28, 2026
“There’s so much chaos you’re confronting, and you have to find a way to ride it and let it be a part of the show.”
From Los Angeles Times ● Jun. 22, 2026
I felt heavy, as if I were moving through water, as if I were confronting much more than a tenth-grade girl with an unusual name.
From "Stargirl" by Jerry Spinelli
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
