# confronting

/kənˈfɹəntɪŋ/ (US) · /kənfɹˈʌntɪŋ/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/confronting
Updated: 2026-08-08

## Senses

### 1. upsetting or challenging

adjective · CEFR B2

describes something that is difficult to deal with because it is shocking or forces you to think about something unpleasant.

For teachers: 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.

### 2. facing someone or something

verb · CEFR B2

the action of facing a person or a problem directly, especially in a brave or aggressive way.

For teachers: 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.

## Examples

- The news about the layoffs was confronting.
- She found the documentary confronting because it showed the harsh reality of factory work.
- The artist's work is confronting, forcing viewers to examine their own complicity in systems they usually ignore.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.