Confront
Skipping seniors, rigged spreadsheets, and water scarcity all wait for the same courage this verb demands: facing the thing instead of circling it.
Learn This WordMeaning
To face a problem boldly.
Memory trick
CON-FRONT: two fronts meet face to face, forehead to forehead.
Examples
The mayor confronted the crisis.
The new captain confronted the senior who had been skipping practice.
Sooner or later every founder must confront the spreadsheet they have been avoiding.
Synonyms
Antonyms
Etymology
From Latin confrontare "to face," from com- "together" + frons "forehead, front." Confronting is front to front, no looking away.
Usage Notes
Direct and brave: problems, crises, and bullies get confronted. Implies standing ground rather than negotiating around.
Real-life contexts
Use at work: "We need to confront the delay honestly."
Use in life: "Confront your fear of public speaking early."
Use in essays: "Cities must confront water scarcity now."
Common Mistakes
Confront with courage, not with violence; the word covers both bold facing and hostile accosting, so context decides the tone.
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Part of Speech
verb
Difficulty
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