A confrontation is a dispute, fight, or battle between two groups of people.
Confrontation with parents is a common reaction for adolescents.
The commission remains so weak that it will continue to avoid confrontation withgovernments. [+ with]
Synonyms: conflict, fight, crisis, contest More Synonyms of confrontation
confrontation in British English
(ˌkɒnfrʌnˈteɪʃən) or archaic confrontment (kɒnˈfrʌntmənt)
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
Derived forms
confrontational (ˌconfronˈtational)
adjective
COBUILD Collocations
confrontation
physical confrontation
Examples of 'confrontation' in a sentence
confrontation
Taking in men from both factions is bound to lead to confrontation.
The Times Literary Supplement (2010)
Women are more likely to avoid confrontation by leaving the other person as many options as possible.
Christianity Today (2000)
Too often there seems to be a confrontation between the two approaches.
Times, Sunday Times (2006)
So she was not going to use confrontation to fight her father.
Clerk, Jayana & Siegel, Ruth Modern Literatures of the Non-Western World: Where the Waters Are Born (1995)
The country has no appetite for a fresh military confrontation.
The Sun (2007)
It is becoming very dangerous and could lead to a confrontation.
Times, Sunday Times (2014)
My advice is to avoid confrontations at all costs.
Jan Fennell, Foreword by Monty Roberts THE DOG LISTENER: Learning the Language of your Best Friend (2002)
This confirmation increases the likelihood of a confrontation between the two countries.
Times, Sunday Times (2014)
Apart from saving face the countries could lose much in any extended military confrontation.
Times, Sunday Times (2008)
Make it a priority avoid unnecessary confrontation.
The Sun (2006)
There have been two big confrontations this year.
Times, Sunday Times (2013)
The nuclear confrontation of the two superpowers had been genuine enough.
Grenville, J. A. S. The Collins History of the World in the 20th Century (1994)
Despite those threats there were signs yesterday that both sides were trying to avoid a confrontation.
Times, Sunday Times (2010)
Police were finally called in after a confrontation between the two.
The Sun (2013)
Back off if it has become an issue - confrontation will get you nowhere.
Times, Sunday Times (2007)
While this leads to uncomfortable confrontations, these are a vital first step to progress.
Times, Sunday Times (2013)
It was an historic moment but at the time I could imagine little but conflict and confrontation ahead.
Times, Sunday Times (2011)
It cannot afford to ignore opportunities to cut costs and modernise for the sake of old-fashioned ticket offices or a union boss who leads by confrontation.
Times, Sunday Times (2014)
The threat came after the worst military confrontation of recent years, in which 100 people died during five days of fighting between government troops and rebel forces.
Times, Sunday Times (2006)
In other languages
confrontation
British English: confrontation NOUN
A confrontation is a dispute, fight, or battle between two groups of people.
The issue has caused great tension between the two countries and could lead to a military confrontation.
American English: confrontation
Brazilian Portuguese: confronto
Chinese: 对抗
European Spanish: enfrentamiento
French: confrontation
German: Konfrontation
Italian: scontro
Japanese: 対決
Korean: 대립
European Portuguese: confrontação
Latin American Spanish: enfrentamiento
Chinese translation of 'confrontation'
confrontation
(kɔnfrənˈteɪʃən)
n(c/u)
(= dispute) 对(對)抗 (duìkàng)
(= fight) 冲(衝)突 (chōngtū)
(noun)
Definition
a serious argument or fight
This issue could lead to a military confrontation.
Synonyms
conflict
The National Security Council has met to discuss ways of preventing a military conflict.
fight
He got a bloody nose in a fight.
crisis
The anxiety that had been building within him reached a crisis.
contest
a bitter contest over who should control the state's future
set-to (informal)
encounter
They were arrested after a chance encounter with security forces near the border.
showdown (informal)
They may be pushing him towards a final showdown with his party.
head-to-head
face-off (slang)
boilover (Australian)
Additional synonyms
in the sense of contest
Definition
a struggle for power or control
a bitter contest over who should control the state's future
Synonyms
struggle,
fight,
battle,
debate,
conflict,
dispute,
encounter,
controversy,
combat,
discord,
turf war (informal)
in the sense of crisis
Definition
a crucial stage or turning point in the course of anything
The anxiety that had been building within him reached a crisis.
Synonyms
critical point,
climax,
point of no return,
height,
confrontation,
crunch (informal),
turning point,
culmination,
crux,
moment of truth,
climacteric,
tipping point
in the sense of encounter
Definition
a game or battle
They were arrested after a chance encounter with security forces near the border.