confront meaning and examples

Meaning

To confront means to face someone or something directly, especially when dealing with a difficult situation, problem, or person. It often implies bravery, directness, or conflict.

Grammar and Usage

• Part of speech: Verb
• Transitivity: Transitive (requires an object)

Common patterns:

• confront + person / problem / issue → She confronted him about the lie.
• be confronted with + problem / situation → We were confronted with a difficult decision.

Variations:

• confrontation (noun): an act of facing or arguing directly
• confrontational (adjective): tending to cause arguments or conflict

Common Phrases

• confront a challenge – face a difficult task
• confront the truth – accept reality
• be confronted with something – face an unexpected problem
• confront one’s fears – face things that make you afraid
• directly confront someone – address a person without avoiding conflict

Collocations

Examples

1. She confronted her boss about the unfair treatment.
2. The country must confront the issue of climate change.
3. He confronted his fear of heights by climbing a mountain.
4. When confronted with the evidence, he admitted the crime.
5. We need to confront our past mistakes in order to move forward.
6. Police confronted the protesters outside the building.
7. It’s easier to avoid problems than to confront them.
8. The teacher confronted the student for cheating on the exam.
9. She refused to confront her emotions and kept them inside.
10. The government is confronted with rising public criticism.

Synonyms or Related

• face
• tackle
• encounter
• oppose
• challenge
• address

Antonym

• avoid
• evade
• ignore
• sidestep
• escape