as in rivalry
an earnest effort for superiority or victory over another
the softball rivals met in an epic confrontation on the last weekend of the summer
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Recent Examples of confrontation
At first, many ordinary Iranians assumed the conflict would be a short confrontation between two governments that was unlikely to affect them.
—
Mohammad Ayatollahi Tabaar, Foreign Affairs, 8 July 2025
No officers were injured in the confrontation, authorities said.
—City News Service, San Diego Union-Tribune, 4 July 2025
There’s also a lot of tension here that’s unfortunately lacking from the rest of the episode, since any confrontation between Charlie and the Iguana will have to wait till next week.
—Louis Peitzman, Vulture, 3 July 2025
Video of the meeting showed the confrontation began during a confusing moment in the session.
—Douglas Hanks, Miami Herald, 28 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for confrontation
Mohammad Ayatollahi Tabaar, Foreign Affairs, 8 July 2025
No officers were injured in the confrontation, authorities said.
—City News Service, San Diego Union-Tribune, 4 July 2025
There’s also a lot of tension here that’s unfortunately lacking from the rest of the episode, since any confrontation between Charlie and the Iguana will have to wait till next week.
—Louis Peitzman, Vulture, 3 July 2025
Video of the meeting showed the confrontation began during a confusing moment in the session.
—Douglas Hanks, Miami Herald, 28 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for confrontation
Recent Examples of Synonyms for confrontation
Noun
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There’s been a lot of change in college football in recent years, but rivalries still form the foundation of the sport for so many fans.—
The Athletic College Football Staff,
New York Times,
7 July 2025
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Adding an element of controversy to what’s been an unusually friendly title rivalry, Piastri even suggested that if McLaren thought the call was unfair, the team could ask him and Norris to swap places to cancel the effect of the penalty.—
James Ellingworth,
Denver Post,
6 July 2025
Noun
-
Dorsey notably supported Kendrick Lamar during the high-profile rap battle between Kendrick and Drake last year, prompting fans to speculate that his apparent stance may have been influenced by Rooks’ connection to the Canadian rapper.—
Preezy Brown,
VIBE.com,
7 July 2025
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Potter faces a battle to restore optimism among the fanbase.—
Roshane Thomas,
New York Times,
7 July 2025
Noun
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Franklin might be the most recent honoree (beating out Curt Cignetti), but the Penn State coach’s struggles with self-editing are not specific to his dealings with Notre Dame.—
Pete Sampson,
New York Times,
11 July 2025
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Javier Hernandez, executive director of the Inland Coalition for Immigrant Justice, told The Associated Press that agents eventually arrested the Honduran man following the struggle inside the clinic that was captured on video.—
Greg Norman,
FOXNews.com,
11 July 2025
Noun
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Junk and Baltimore starter Trevor Rogers engaged in a pitchers’ duel into the seventh inning.—
Miami Herald,
Miami Herald,
12 July 2025
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What looked like a classic pitchers’ duel before the game took some twists and turns on Friday, with one ace looking rock-solid, but losing, and another ace struggling early, but winning.—
Jess Myers,
Twin Cities,
12 July 2025
Noun
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Their manager, Sarina Wiegman, has an extraordinary record in this competition, having won it with both the Netherlands and England.—
Darren Richman,
New York Times,
5 July 2025
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In Squid Game, Lee portrays Gyeong-seok (Player 246), a devoted father who joins the brutal competition to protect his family at all costs.—
EW.com,
EW.com,
4 July 2025
Noun
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There have been conflicts between rideshare drivers and taxis in the past, so consider sticking with a reputable taxi or car service, However, the more adventurous can rent a car to explore nearby cenotes, ruins, and regional highlights.—
Carley Rojas Avila,
Travel + Leisure,
12 July 2025
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Lex outmaneuvers the titular hero for most of Superman, turning the public against him by uncovering the entirety of the sinister message from his Kryptonian parents and orchestrating a political conflict for personal gain.—
Jack Smart,
People.com,
11 July 2025
Noun
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It is crewed by more than 30 people, including electronic warfare officers and intelligence operators, according to the Air Force.—
Ellie Cook
John Feng,
MSNBC Newsweek,
9 July 2025
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In World War II, amphibious aircraft were used for reconnaissance, search and rescue operations, and anti-submarine warfare.—
Daniel Cote,
Robb Report,
9 July 2025
Noun
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Of course, not everyone gets to take home the gold, and indeed, not everyone gets as far as a nomination, but some are left out of contention for reasons that have nothing to do with audience or critical appreciation or Television Academy voter preferences.—
Ryan Fleming,
Deadline,
14 July 2025
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There is still more work to do, but the Lakers are trying to make the necessary moves to get back into championship contention.—
Evan Massey,
MSNBC Newsweek,
13 July 2025
Cite this Entry
“Confrontation.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/confrontation. Accessed 19 Jul. 2025.
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