confront the reality

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "confront the reality" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when you want to refer to facing and accepting a situation that is difficult or unpleasant. For example, "The company had to confront the reality of a large budget shortfall."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

58 human-written examples

A nation at war should confront the reality of war.

The New York Times

New Yorkers had to confront the reality of the natural world around them.

The New York Times

"I did not feel able to confront the reality of her death.

The New York Times

"I've had an incomparable opportunity to confront the reality of another person always," he said.

The New York Times

Governance is forcing Republicans to confront the reality that repeal without replacement is untenable.

The New Yorker

How I wished I'd never had to confront the reality of what I saw".

The Guardian

Companies must confront the reality that their supply chains can no longer be opaque.

The Guardian

"I think we are at a crossroads, and everybody knows that, but nobody wants to confront the reality," Pigasse said.

The New Yorker

He urged the public to confront the reality of their weight and the potential health issues it can trigger.

The Guardian

Caravanning is certainly an effective way to confront the reality of human wastefulness, and indeed human waste.

The Guardian - Travel

"People are often afraid to confront the reality of the American racial dilemma on film," he said.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "confront the reality", ensure that the context clearly establishes the difficult or unpleasant nature of the reality being faced.

Common error

Don't soften the impact of "confront the reality" with vague language. Be direct about what reality needs to be confronted.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "confront the reality" functions as a verb phrase, where "confront" is the verb and "the reality" is the object. This structure signifies the act of facing and acknowledging a difficult or challenging situation. The phrase is widely used across various sources, as Ludwig confirms, indicating its broad applicability.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

70%

Science

15%

Formal & Business

10%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

1%

Wiki

2%

Reference

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "confront the reality" is a grammatically correct and widely used expression that signifies facing and acknowledging a difficult or unpleasant situation. Ludwig confirms its proper usage and broad applicability. It is frequently found in news and media, but also appears in science and formal business contexts. Alternatives include "face the facts" or "accept the truth". When employing this phrase, ensure clarity and avoid euphemisms. It is essential to directly address the specific reality that needs to be confronted.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

facing the reality

Uses the continuous form "facing" to emphasize the ongoing process of dealing with the reality.

confront the truth

Replaces "reality" with "truth", emphasizing the verity of the situation.

acknowledge the reality

Focuses on recognizing and accepting the truth of the situation.

accept the reality

Emphasizes the act of coming to terms with and internalizing the reality.

meet the reality

Uses "meet" instead of "confront", suggesting a less aggressive approach to facing the situation.

encounter the reality

Similar to "meet the reality", but may imply a more unexpected or sudden confrontation.

overcome the reality

Focuses more on surpassing or dealing with the reality, rather than simply facing it.

address the reality

Implies acknowledging and dealing with the reality, often in a formal or official manner.

tackle the reality

Suggests actively addressing and attempting to resolve the challenging situation.

grapple with the reality

Suggests a struggle or difficulty in fully accepting or understanding the reality.

FAQs

How can I use "confront the reality" in a sentence?

You can use "confront the reality" to describe facing a difficult or unpleasant situation. For example, "The government must "confront the reality" of climate change".

What can I say instead of "confront the reality"?

Alternatives include "face the facts", "accept the truth", or "deal with the situation", depending on the specific context.

Is it better to "confront the reality" or "ignore the reality"?

"Confronting the reality" is generally better as it allows for proactive problem-solving, while ignoring it can lead to further complications. Each alternative depends on specific context.

What's the difference between "confront the reality" and "accept the reality"?

"Confront the reality" implies a direct and potentially challenging engagement with a situation, while "accept the reality" suggests a more passive acknowledgement and coming to terms with it.