confrontation

USAGE SUMMARY

The word "confrontation" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to refer to a situation in which two people, groups, or ideas directly oppose or challenge each other. For example: "The confrontation between the police and the protestors quickly escalated into a violent altercation."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

State media reported on Friday that King Salman had conveyed the carefully-worded message during a telephone conversation with Barack Obama, maintaining the kingdom's position of avoiding an open confrontation with the US while warning about, and confronting, Iran's regional ambitions.

The Guardian

A confrontation ensued.

The New York Times

Just a 10-minute stroll from the Short Strand, hundreds of people looked on as two rival factions jeered and snarled at one another before the final confrontation, when hand-to-hand fighting finally broke out.

The Guardian

A significant thread in the recent politics of Tower Hamlets is the legacy of the Battle of Cable Street, the legendary East End street confrontation involving the police, local Jewish and Irish workers and activists, and Sir Oswald Mosley's British Union of Fascists that took place on 4 October, 1936.

The Guardian

There is also a growing sense that differences between different separatist militias could lead to confrontation.

The Guardian

His party had seen the need in the mid-1960s to set Heath, their own meritocrat, to catch Labour's formidable Wilson, and that confrontation dominated a decade of British parliamentary life.

The Guardian

That's possible - those types of viewers typically claim to dislike excess confrontation in politics, and what made Romney effective was that his aggression was restrained and respectful - but ultimately, Americans, their claims to the contrary notwithstanding, respond viscerally to alpha dominance in their political leaders.

The Guardian

With owners threatening to move production east she had no need of a Frau Thatcher confrontation.

The Guardian - Opinion

Traditionally at the forefront of social protest, and frequently on both sides of any debate, in this confrontation their voices appear to have been muted.

The Guardian

The 90-minute TV movie, Faith, follows in the footsteps of BBC1 dramas including Warriors, about British army peacekeepers in Bosnia; The Project, which dealt with the rise of New Labour; and most recently Holy Cross, a dramatisation of the 2001 sectarian confrontation in Belfast.

The Guardian

According to Hunt there was a confrontation with MacGregor in the living room.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "confrontation" when you want to emphasize a direct and often hostile encounter between opposing forces or ideas. Be mindful of the intensity the word implies; it is stronger than "discussion" or "debate".

Common error

Avoid using "confrontation" to describe minor disagreements or discussions. The term carries a weight of hostility and conflict, making it inappropriate for situations where the disagreement is not intense or serious.

Linguistic Context

The word "confrontation" functions primarily as a noun, referring to an act of confronting or a situation involving opposing forces. Ludwig AI confirms its correct usage, and examples show it describing conflicts, debates, and standoffs.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

76%

Formal & Business

12%

Science

12%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "confrontation" is a noun denoting a direct and often hostile encounter. Ludwig AI validates its correctness and usability. Its frequency of use is high, particularly in "News & Media", suggesting a relatively formal register. While semantically related to terms like "clash" and "conflict", "confrontation" carries a stronger implication of direct opposition. Effective writing involves using "confrontation" accurately, avoiding its overuse in mild disagreement scenarios. Understanding these nuances ensures precise and impactful communication.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

conflict

Suggests a more prolonged and potentially deeper disagreement or struggle.

clash

Implies a brief, often violent, encounter.

face-off

Emphasizes a direct encounter or meeting of opposing forces.

showdown

Indicates a decisive contest or confrontation, often with high stakes.

standoff

Describes a situation where opposing parties are deadlocked and unwilling to yield.

opposition

Highlights the act of resisting or going against something.

struggle

Implies a sustained effort against opposition or difficulty.

encounter

A general term for a meeting, which may or may not be hostile.

dispute

Focuses on a disagreement or argument, often in a legal or formal setting.

argument

Suggests a verbal disagreement or debate.

FAQs

How to use "confrontation" in a sentence?

You can use "confrontation" to describe a direct and often hostile encounter between two opposing forces or ideas. For example: "The "confrontation between the police" and protestors led to several arrests".

What can I say instead of "confrontation"?

You can use alternatives like "clash", "conflict", or "showdown" depending on the context.

What's the difference between "confrontation" and "argument"?

"Confrontation" implies a more direct and potentially hostile encounter, while "argument" typically refers to a verbal disagreement or debate.

Which is correct, "confrontation" or "conflict"?

Both "confrontation" and "conflict" are correct, but they have slightly different meanings. "Confrontation" suggests a face-to-face encounter, whereas "conflict" can be more general.