English Reference
adjective · verb

confronting

adj. · v.
US /kənˈfɹəntɪŋ/ UK /kənfɹˈʌntɪŋ/ con·fronting

  1. 01 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.

    Simple

    The documentary about the war was very confronting and hard to watch.

    In context

    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.

  2. 02 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.

    Simple

    Confronting your fears is the first step toward overcoming them.

    In context

    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.

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.

The Conversation· 10 Aug 2026

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?

BBC News· 4 Aug 2026
This entry
Level B2 · Upper Intermediate
Frequency Frequent
Updated