confront

To deal directly with a difficult problem or situation.

• We must confront this problem.
• She finally confronted her fear of flying.
• The council is confronting the housing crisis.

Similar words: tackle, face, address

Opposites: avoid

Common phrases: confront a problem, confront your fears, confront an issue

To face someone directly, or make someone face a difficult fact or situation.

• She confronted the man outside.
• They confronted their manager with evidence of unfair treatment.
• I was confronted with the truth about my father.

How to use it: confront someone with something (She confronted him with the missing receipts.); be confronted with something (We were confronted with some surprising facts.)

Similar words: face, challenge

Common phrases: confront someone, confront someone with something

To meet or come up against someone or something, especially an opponent or difficulty.

• Our team will confront the champions tomorrow.
• The explorers confronted several obstacles along the route.
• The soldiers advanced until they confronted the enemy.

Similar words: encounter, meet, face

Common phrases: confront an opponent, confront an obstacle, confront an enemy