French word

confronter

Pronunciation

IPA/kɔ̃fʁɔ̃te/

Meaning

  • verbcompare

Example

Ils vont confronter les résultats des deux études.

They are going to compare the results of the two studies.

Illustration for confronter (compare)

More examples

Elle a dû se confronter à la critique.

She was forced to confront criticism.

Core concept

Facts, results, or people placed face to face so differences become clear or an issue must be faced.

Common phrases

  • se confronter à un problème

    confront a problem

  • confronter les résultats

    cross-check the results

  • confronter quelqu'un à la réalité

    make someone face reality

Similar words

comparer: To compare two or more things to find differences or similarities.
croiser: To cross-check separate sources or pieces of information for agreement.
vérifier: To check whether information or figures are accurate.
contraster: To highlight the differences between two things.

Definition in French

Mettre face à face des faits, des résultats ou des personnes pour comparer ou obliger à faire face à une situation; s'emploie aussi pronominalement pour signifier faire face à quelque chose.

Word origin

French confronter comes from Latin confrontare, formed from con- 'together' and frons 'forehead' or 'front'.

Usage tips

  • With a person, French commonly uses confronter quelqu'un à something or se confronter à something, rather than a direct English-style construction.

Other meanings

  • confrontverb

Opposites

Related words

Word lists with this word