Word
confronting
Phoneticscon·fronting
US/kənˈfɹəntɪŋ/
UK/kənfɹˈʌntɪŋ/
Definitions
01upsetting or challenging
B2 · Upper Intermediate
adj. describes something that is difficult to deal with because it is shocking or forces you to think about something unpleasant.
adj. causing distress, discomfort, or psychological challenge by forcing an encounter with unpleasant truths or realities.
“The documentary about the war was very confronting and hard to watch.”
“The exhibition featured several confronting images of poverty that forced visitors to reconsider their own social privileges.”
Usage
Commonly used in Australian and British English to describe art, news, or personal feedback.
Synonyms
Antonyms
02facing someone or something
B2 · Upper Intermediate
v. the action of facing a person or a problem directly, especially in a brave or aggressive way.
v. the present participle or gerund of 'confront', indicating the act of facing or challenging a person, problem, or fact.
“Confronting your fears is the first step toward overcoming them.”
“By confronting the witness with the new forensic evidence, the lawyer managed to highlight significant inconsistencies in the original testimony.”
Usage
As a verb form, it often takes a direct object representing the person or issue being faced.
Synonyms
Real-World Examples
“In this way, visits can serve as a makeshift form of family therapy , with families confronting problems of addiction, parenthood and mental health under conditions that are far from ideal.” “Their experiences offer an insight into a question confronting emerging economies like the Philippines: what happens when AI begins to automate the jobs that helped lift millions of people into the middle classes?” - Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.B2 FirstIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.5.5–6.5TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 4.0–4.572–94TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.785–944
- Frequency
- Frequent
- Level
- B2 · Upper Intermediate
- Updated
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