in the face of
Idioms-
Despite the opposition of, notwithstanding, as in In the face of published statistics, they insist there is no flu epidemic . [Early 1800s] Also see fly in the face of .
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When confronted with, as in It is hard for brokers to be cheerful in the face of a falling stock market . [Late 1800s]
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.
For McCluskey, the reward comes in the face of those who receive items that someone else has thrown away.
From BBC ● Aug. 9, 2026
The Takaichi administration is undertaking a major update of the national defence strategy this year in the face of China's expanding military ambitions.
From Barron's ● Aug. 9, 2026
Its financial picture has improved somewhat since that nadir, but Catalina Island Health remains one of several hospitals across Los Angeles County that are struggling to stay open in the face of strong financial headwinds.
From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 6, 2026
It might not strike you as particularly surprising that the market timers so quickly ran for the exits in the face of the market’s drop.
From MarketWatch ● Aug. 3, 2026
Jonah thought maybe Chip was trying to sound like the donkey from Shrek—carefree, glib, and full of wisecracks even in the face of danger.
From "Found" by Margaret Peterson Haddix
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.
