confrontation

Rarely con·front·al

[kon-fruhn-tey-shuhn, -fruhn-]

noun

1. an act of confronting.

2. the state of being confronted.

3. a meeting of persons face to face.

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

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

6. 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.

confrontation

/ 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

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

Other Word Forms

• nonconfrontation noun
• reconfrontation noun
• confrontational adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of confrontation¹

First recorded in 1625–35; confront + -ation; compare Medieval Latin confrontātiō, French, Middle French confrontation

Example Sentences

Italian officials have urged the flotilla to accept a compromise and drop the aid in Cyprus to avoid a confrontation with Israel.

From BBC

But it’s fair to say that Reagan never indulged in outright name-calling or hateful invective, stressed his desire for negotiation over confrontation and left the nuclear saber-rattling to subordinates.

From Salon

In an aerial video that captured the initial confrontation, Retes is seen driving up to the line of agents.

From Los Angeles Times

Her words also offered a contrast to the bombast and confrontation that has typified most of modern American politics.

From BBC

Los Angeles police are searching for a man suspected of stabbing and wounding another man during a confrontation aboard a Metro bus Saturday on the city’s south side.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• battle 
• contest 
• crisis 
• dispute 
• encounter 
• fight 
• meeting 
• showdown 
• strife