to confront

Examples

• All

• There are, however, solutions to the bureaucratic nightmare that confronts many social workers.

  Academic text (2011)

• I wondered if it was worthwhile to try to confront Elena about my missing stuff.

  Fiction book (1990)

• What is the biggest challenge that you confront in your own relationship?

  Rich Roll

• I thought, why would I confront this person?

• Deal with it like we have to confront that reality.

  The Diary Of A CEO

• But now you graduates must confront the question you wish to do good.

• And so I resolved to confront the problem directly.

  Ageless Love (2022)

• The book asks how should we confront the absurd?

  Philosophy Tube

• We have a president who takes responsibility for mistakes, who confronts problems and tells the country the truth.

  Academic text (2011)

• Equity in excellence for all students is one of the major challenges confronting our educational system.

  Academic text (1999)

Synonyms

F

to face

vsto confront

∞ 2.2

To deal with a difficult situation or person

is specifically about bold and direct action against difficulty

F

to face up

vsto confront

• Informal

38 4.1

To accept and deal with a difficult situation directly and bravely

is more about bold action rather than simple acceptance

F

to face the truth

vsto confront

16 3.7

Accept real facts even when they are painful

focuses on bold direct dealing with difficulty not only acceptance

F

to face head-on

vsto confront

9 4.2

Deal with a problem directly instead of avoiding it

is about dealing boldly and directly with difficulty

F

to face a challenge

vsto confront

5 3.9

Deal with a difficult problem or situation

emphasizes bold direct action toward fears and people not just tasks

T

to tackle (the problem)

vsto confront

5 3.0

To try hard to solve a problem

is more about bold direct confrontation than energetic effort

T

to take the bull by the horns

vsto confront

• Informal

4 5.6

To deal with a difficult problem directly and bravely

is the idiomatic bold form of direct dealing with difficulty

G

to grab the bull by the horns

vsto confront

• Informal

1 6.3

Face a difficult problem directly and bravely

matches bold direct action but in idiomatic form rather than neutral

B

to beard the lion in his den

vsto confront

• Informal

1 9.9

To confront a powerful person directly in their own place

is more specific about directly dealing with powerful people in their territory

F

to face an issue

vsto confront

3.3

To deal directly and openly with a problem

is about bold directness rather than merely openness

B

to brazen out

vsto confront

• Informal

8.1

To face a difficult or embarrassing situation boldly and without shame

is about active bold confrontation rather than hiding or pretending

Antonyms

A

to avoid

∞ 1.0

To stay away from something or not do it to stop something bad from happening

E

to evade

52 4.4

To get away from someone or something by being clever and tricky

S

to shun

26 4.6

To avoid someone or something and refuse to meet and speak to them on purpose

Compounds

R

right to confront accusers

• Formal

8.3

A right to question people who say you did something wrong in a criminal trial

How Bold

to overcome

429 2.9

to confront

359 4.4

to tackle

204 3.4

to face

∞ 2.2

Surface Forms

Etymology