ENGLISH
REFERENCE

confronting

adj.
B2 Upper Intermediate US //kənˈfɹəntɪŋ// UK //kənfɹˈʌntɪŋ// con·fronting

adj. causing you to feel worried or uncomfortable because you have to deal with a difficult situation. You use this when something forces you to face a hard truth or problem.

adj. causing anxiety or discomfort by forcing a person to face an unpleasant reality or difficult situation. Typically used predicatively after linking verbs such as 'feel' or 'be'.


SIMPLE

The news about the layoffs was confronting.

CONTEXTUAL

She found the documentary confronting because it showed the harsh reality of factory work.

COMPLEX

The artist's work is confronting, forcing viewers to examine their own complicity in systems they usually ignore.

Synonyms
Antonyms
Usage

Often used predicatively (e.g., 'The situation was confronting') rather than attributively before a noun.

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