confront

verb

con·​front kən-ˈfrənt How to pronounce confront (audio)
confronted; confronting; confronts
Synonyms of confront

transitive verb

1
: to face especially in challenge : oppose
confront an enemy
The mayor was confronted by a group of protesters.
2
a
: to cause to meet : bring face-to-face
confront a reader with statistics
confronted her with the evidence
b
: to meet face-to-face : encounter
confronted the possibility of failure
confrontal
kən-ˈfrən-tᵊl How to pronounce confront (audio)
noun
confronter noun

Synonyms of confront

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Examples of confront in a Sentence

They confronted the invaders at the shore. She confronted him about his smoking. The country is reluctant to confront its violent past. The photographs confront the viewer with images of desperate poverty. I confronted her with the evidence.
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Initial evidence indicates Ceesay confronted the two men in the parking lot before shooting them, police said. — Thao Nguyen, USA Today, 2 Sep. 2026 As her mother unravels, Maya uncovers a pattern of silence and exploitation that leads her to confront her father’s deception and her family’s complicity. — Scott Roxborough, HollywoodReporter, 2 Sep. 2026 And now, Aliso Beach joins the list of areas confronted by erosion problems. — Ruben Vives, Los Angeles Times, 2 Sep. 2026 Police confronted him after receiving a call from a woman who accused Simms of threatening to come to her home with a gun. — Charlotte Observer, 2 Sep. 2026 See All Example Sentences for confront

Word History

Etymology

Middle French confronter to border on, confront, from Medieval Latin confrontare to bound, from Latin com- + front-, frons forehead, front

First Known Use

circa 1568, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of confront was circa 1568

Rhymes for confront

See All Rhymes for confront

Browse Nearby Words

confrication
confront
confrontal
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Confront.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/confront. Accessed 4 Sep. 2026.

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Kids Definition

confront

verb
con·​front kən-ˈfrənt How to pronounce confront (audio)
1
: to face especially in challenge : oppose
confront an enemy
2
: to bring face-to-face : cause to meet
confronted with difficulties
confrontation
ˌkän-(ˌ)frən-ˈtā-shən
noun

Legal Definition

confront

transitive verb
con·​front kən-ˈfrənt How to pronounce confront (audio)
: to face or bring face-to-face for the purpose of challenging especially through cross-examination
the accused shall enjoy the right…to be confronted with the witnesses against him—U.S. Constitution amend. VI
confrontation
ˌkän-frən-ˈtā-shən How to pronounce confront (audio)
noun
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