confront

Confront is a verb with several related senses. It can mean to face someone in a direct, often challenging or hostile manner; to bring someone face-to-face with a situation or truth; or to deal with a problem or difficult issue directly. In use, it often implies a deliberate, purposeful encounter rather than avoidance.

The word comes from Old French confronter, from Latin con- “together” and frons, frontis “face.” It entered English in the late Middle Ages and has since acquired both interpersonal and problem-focused meanings.

Confront is transitive; you confront someone with evidence, confront a suspect, or confront a problem. The related noun is confrontation; the adjective is confrontational. Confrontations can be constructive or destructive depending on tone and context. The phrase face up to or deal with is often used as a softer alternative; to confront fears or past events is common in personal development.

See also: confrontation, confrontational, face, challenge, conflict resolution, assertiveness.