confrontation

[ kon-fruhn-tey-shuhn, -fruhn- ]
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noun
  1. an act of confronting.

  2. the state of being confronted.

  1. a meeting of persons face to face.

  2. an open conflict of opposing ideas, forces, etc.

  3. a bringing together of ideas, themes, etc., for comparison.

  4. Psychology. a technique used in group therapy, as in encounter groups, in which one is forced to recognize one's shortcomings and their possible consequences.

Origin of confrontation

1
First recorded in 1625–35; confront + -ation; compare Medieval Latin confrontātiō, French, Middle French confrontation
  • Rarely con·front·al [kon-fruhn-tl], /kɒnˈfrʌn tl/, con·front·ment [kon-fruhnt-muhnt] /kɒnˈfrʌnt mənt/ .

Other words from confrontation

  • non·con·fron·ta·tion, noun
  • re·con·fron·ta·tion, noun

Words Nearby confrontation

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024

How to use confrontation in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for confrontation

confrontation

archaic confrontment (kɒnˈfrʌntmənt)

/ (ˌkɒnfrʌnˈteɪʃən) /


noun
  1. the act or an instance of confronting

  2. a situation of mutual hostility between two powers or nations without open warfare

  1. a state of conflict between two antagonistic forces, creeds, or ideas etc

Derived forms of confrontation

  • confrontational, adjective

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