Copyright © Philip M. Parker, INSEAD. Terms of Use.

Confrontation

Definition: Confrontation

Confrontation

Noun

1. A bold challenge.

2. A hostile disagreement face-to-face.

3. The act of opposing groups confronting each other; "the government was not ready for a confrontation with the unions"; "the invaders encountered stiff opposition".

Source: WordNet 1.7.1 Copyright © 2001 by Princeton University. All rights reserved.
 

Date "confrontation" was first used in popular English literature: sometime before 1902. (references)

Etymology: Confrontation \Con`fron*ta"tion\, noun. [from Late Latin expression confrontatio.]. (Websters 1913)


Synonyms: Confrontation

Synonyms: encounter (n), opposition (n), showdown (n). (additional references)

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Crosswords: Confrontation

English words defined with "confrontation": arm, at loggerheadsbraced, build upconfrontationaldilatoryFabian, forearm, fortifygirdoppositionpoliticsmooth, suave. (references)
Specialty definitions using "confrontation": Escape ReactionPsychotherapy, Rational-EmotiveSTEP OFF. (references)
Non-English Usage: "Confrontation" is also a word in the following language with English translations in parentheses.

French (confrontation, showdown, stand off).

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Modern Usage: Confrontation

DomainUsage

Screenplays

I'm already reviewing my computer logs of our confrontation. In a matter of hours I will know everything there is to know about that banana-headed bovine! (Knight Rider; writing credit: Cory Applebaum; Bob Benedetto)

We always like to avoid confrontation, whenever possible. (Office Space; writing credit: Mike Judge)

Lyrics

No confrontation, probably all night (Music; performing artist: Erick Sermon)

Movie/TV Titles

Confrontation (1971)

Deadly Confrontation (1982)

Source: compiled by the editor from various references; see credits.

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Commercial Usage: Confrontation

DomainTitle

Books

  • Jesus' Sermon on the Mount: And His Confrontation With the World: An Exposition of Matthew 5-10 (reference)

  • Negotiating Enviromental Agreements : How to Avoid Escalating Confrontation, Needless Costs, and Unnecessary Litigation (reference)

    (more book examples)

  

Periodicals

  

Theater & Movies

  

Music

Source: compiled by the editor from various references; see credits.

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Image Slideshow: Confrontation

Illustrations:
Confrontation

More pictures...

Computer Images:
Confrontation

More pictures...

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Non-Fiction Usage: Confrontation

SubjectTopicQuote

Civil Liberties

Nicaragua

During the confrontation one police officer was killed, and one protester wounded. (references)

Brazil

In March a total of 16 MST members were injured in a confrontation with military police in Minas Gerais. (references)

Bosnia and Herzegovina

Approximately 5,000-10,000 Serbs who fled Kosovo or Serbia during the Kosovo confrontation are believed to be in the RS in private accommodations. (references)

Economic History

Fiji

Intercommunal relations were managed without serious confrontation. (references)

Lebanon

Violent confrontation flared up again in Beirut in 1988 between Amal and Hizballah. (references)

Bolivia

The Bolivian army was sent to retake the mines, and in the ensuing confrontation there were several civilian deaths and one military death. (references)

Human Rights

Malawi

In August 1999, police shot and killed a former Eritrean detainee and injured six others in a confrontation in Lilongwe. (references)

Nepal

On September 9, Baijinath Das Tharu was killed in a confrontation between purported Maoists and local villagers in Parsa District. (references)

Peru

Unlike the previous year, there were no reports that peasants or others died during armed confrontation with owners of land they occupied. (references)

Indigenous People

Chile

Fifty persons were injured in the confrontation, including 14 policemen. (references)

Political Economy

Costa Rica

A U.S. citizen and a Costa Rican squatter died during a confrontation over land ownership in 1997. (references)

Somalia

This led to a confrontation with Chief Justice Yusuf Haji Nur, who claimed interim presidential powers pending elections. (references)

Travel

Japan

Japanese society is complex, structured, hierarchical and group-oriented with strong emphasis on maintaining harmony and avoiding surface confrontation. (references)

Kenya

Travelers should follow the printed and electronic media to keep abreast of where and when any political rallies and demonstrations are likely to occur, and of the potential for confrontation. (references)

Women

Afghanistan

Implementation remained erratic, but the U.N. and NGO's nonetheless required their female staff to remain at home to avoid open confrontation with the Taliban. (references)

Worker Rights

Singapore

In addition the widely held view that labor conflict would undermine the country's economic competitiveness and attractiveness to investors, and a cultural aversion to confrontation help to maintain a harmonious labor situation. (references)

Source: compiled by the editor from ICON Group International, Inc.; see credits.

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Spoken Usage: Confrontation

SpeakerPhrase(s)

Harland Braun

Well, because of O.J., you know, that we had that long chase. So I think they prevented any kind of confrontation by calling me and they prevented any kind of anything going wrong.

Source: compiled by the editor from various references; see credits.

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Speeches: Confrontation

SpeakerTermPhrase(s)

John F. Kennedy

1961-1963This applies to the military confrontation between the Warsaw Pact and NATO countries as well as to other situations in other parts of the world where tensions lead to the wasteful diversion of resources to weapons of war.

Lyndon B. Johnson

1963-1969A cease-fire was achieved without a major power confrontation.

Richard Nixon

1969-1974After a period of confrontation, we are entering an era of negotiation.

Gerald Ford

1974-1977Only a balanced agreement will serve our interests and minimize the threat of nuclear confrontation.

Jimmy Carter

1977-1981Between us there has been cooperation, there has been competition, and at times there has been confrontation.

Source: compiled by the editor from various references.

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Usage Frequency: Confrontation

"Confrontation" is generally used as a noun (singular) -- approximately 99.80% of the time. "Confrontation" is used about 1,011 times out of a sample of 100 million words spoken or written in English. Its rank is based on over 700,000 words used in the English language. Some parts-of-speech are not covered due to the samples used by the British National Corpus. (note: percents less than one-hundredth of one percent have been omitted)
Parts of SpeechPercentUsage per
100 Million Words
Rank in English
Noun (singular)99.8%1,0097,312
Noun (common)0.2%2245,945
                    Total100.00%1,011N/A

Source: compiled by the editor from several corpora; see credits.

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Expressions: Confrontation

Expression using "confrontation": nuclear confrontation. Additional references.

Hyphenated Usage

Beginning with "confrontation": confrontation-point.

Ending with "confrontation": non-confrontation, Self-confrontation.

Source: compiled by the editor from various references; see credits.

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Frequency of Internet Keywords: Confrontation

The following statistics estimate the number of searches per day across the major English-language search engines as identified by various trade publications. Hyperlinks lead to commercial use of the expression at Amazon.com.
 
ExpressionFrequency
per Day

confrontation

89

confrontation miniature

30

confrontation rackham

23

confrontation miniature rackham

8

concordia confrontation

4

confrontation point

3

confrontation dealing

3

confrontation ministry point

3

bob confrontation marley

3

confrontation positive power

3

confrontation fear

3

confrontation game

3

confrontation camp

2

confrontation constructive

2

confrontation indonesia malaysia

2

confrontation translation

2

between confrontation indonesia malaysia

2
Source: compiled by the editor from various references; see credits.

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Modern Translation: Confrontation

Language Translations for "confrontation"; alternative meanings/domain in parentheses.

Albanian

  

vënie përballë, kundërvënie (contradistinction, contraposition, contravention, reaction, traverse), ballafaqim (juxtaposition). (various references)

   

Arabic 

  

‏مواجهة (defiance, encounter, facing, meeting, obverse), ‏مجابهة, ‏تحدي. (various references)

   

Bulgarian 

  

конфронтация (showdown), очна ставка, противопоставяне (contradistinction, contrast, dichotomy, objection, opposition, resistance). (various references)

   

Chinese 

  

交". (various references)

   

Czech

  

konfrontace. (various references)

   

Danish

  

konfrontation (communicating, meeting). (various references)

   

Dutch

  

confrontatie. (various references)

   

Finnish

  

yhteenotto (clash, encounter). (various references)

   

French

  

confrontation. (various references)

   

German

  

gegenüberstellung (comparison, contrast, identification parade), konfrontation. (various references)

   

Greek 

  

αντιμετώπιση. (various references)

   

Hebrew 

  

עמות (parallelization, set off), "עמת" (parallelism). (various references)

   

Hungarian

  

szembesítés (confronting). (various references)

   

Indonesian

  

konfrontasi. (various references)

   

Italian

  

confronto (assimilation, collation, compare, comparison, parallel), conflittualit , scontro (clash, collision, conflict, crash, disagreement, encounter, engagement, smash, smash up). (various references)

   

Japanese Kanji 

  

相対 (between ourselves, facing, no third party, relative, tete-a-tete), 直面 , 対質 (cross-examination), 対立 (antagonism, opposition), 対決 (showdown), 対審 . (various references)

   

Japanese Katakana 

  

たいしつ (constitution, cross-examination, exit from a room, genetic make-up, moisture-proof, predisposition), たいし" (person of high rank or income, resistant to earthquakes), たいりつ (antagonism, opposition), たいけつ (showdown), あいたい (between ourselves, facing, no third party, tete-a-tete), ちょくめ". (various references)

   

Korean 

  

대치. (various references)

   

Manx

  

shassoo noi (object, objection, resist, resistance, withstand), cur eddin. (various references)

   

Pig Latin

  

onfrontationcay

   

Portuguese

  

confronto (approach, collation, comparison, parallel), confrontação, acareação (to bring witnesses face to face, to confront witnesses face to face). (various references)

   

Romanian

  

confruntare. (various references)

   

Russian 

  

конфронтация. (various references)

   

Serbo-Croatian

  

suočenje, konfrontacija. (various references)

   

Spanish

  

confrontación (showdown). (various references)

   

Swedish

  

konfrontering (line up). (various references)

   

Turkish

  

yüzleştirme, yüzleşme (facedown), karşılaşma (contest, encounter, event, fight, match, meet, meeting). (various references)

   

Ukrainian

  

конфронтація (zap), очна ставка, протиборство, порівняння (assimilation, collation, comparison, simile, similitude). (various references)

   

Vietnamese 

  

sự chạm trán, sự đương đầu sự đối chất sự đối chiếu. (various references)

Source: compiled by the editor from various translation references.

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Ancestral Language Translations: Confrontation

LanguagePeriodTranslations
Avestan200-600

hamistayaêca. (various references)

Source: compiled by the editor from various references.

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Derivations & Misspellings: Confrontation

Derivations

Words beginning with "confrontation": confrontational, confrontationist, confrontationists, confrontations. (additional references)

Words ending with "confrontation": nonconfrontation. (additional references)

Words containing "confrontation": nonconfrontational, nonconfrontations. (additional references)


Misspellings

"Confrontation" is suggested in spellcheckers for the following: confrontantion, confrotation, controntation. (additional references)

Source: compiled by the editor, based on several corpora (additional references).

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Rhyming with "Confrontation"

# of Phoneme MatchesPronunciationWord(s) rhyming with "confrontation" (pronounced kÄ'nfruntā"shun)
7-u n t ā" sh u ndisorientation, experimentation, fermentation, fragmentation, incantation, pigmentation, presentation, recantation, sedimentation, segmentation.
6-n t ā" sh u nargumentation, augmentation, documentation, implantation, implementation, indentation, instrumentation, misrepresentation, orientation, ornamentation, ostentation, plantation, regimentation, representation, transplantation.
5-t ā" sh u naccreditation, adaptation, affectation, agitation, amputation, annotation, cetacean, citation, cogitation, cohabitation, computation, connotation, consultation, crustacean, decapitation, deforestation, deportation, devastation, dictation, dilatation, disputation, dissertation, equitation, excitation, exhortation, expectation, exploitation, facilitation, flirtation, flotation, gestation, gravitation, habitation, hesitation, imitation, importation, imputation, incapacitation, incrustation, infestation, inhabitation, interpretation, invitation, irritation, lactation, levitation, limitation, manifestation, meditation, misinterpretation, molestation, mutation, notation, palpitation, permutation, precipitation, premeditation, protestation, quotation, recitation, reforestation, refutation, rehabilitation, reinterpretation, reputation, resuscitation, rotation, sanitation, solicitation, station, superstation, temptation, transportation, vegetation, visitation.
4-ā" sh u nabbreviation, abdication, aberration, abomination, abrogation, acceleration, acclimation, accommodation, accumulation, accusation, acidification, activation, adjudication, administration, admiration, adoration, adulation, advocation, affiliation, affirmation, agglomeration, aggravation, alienation, allegation, alleviation, allocation, alphabetization, alteration, altercation, amalgamation, amelioration, amortization, amplification, animation, annexation, annihilation, anticipation, antidiscrimination, appellation, application, appreciation, approbation, appropriation, approximation, arbitration, articulation, aspiration, assassination, assimilation, association, authentication, authorization, automation, aviation, avocation, balkanization, bifurcation, calculation, calibration, cancellation, cannibalization, capitalization, capitulation, carnation, castration, categorization, causation, celebration, centralization, certification, cessation, characterization, civilization, clarification, classification, coagulation, codification, cogeneration, collaboration, collectivization, colonization, coloration, colorization, combination, commemoration, commendation, commercialization, communication, communization, compensation, compilation, complication, computerization, concatenation, concentration, conciliation, condemnation, condensation, confabulation, confederation, configuration, confirmation, confiscation, conflagration, conglomeration, congratulation, congregation, conjugation, consecration, conservation, consideration, consolation, consolidation, constellation, consternation, constipation, consummation, contamination, contemplation, continuation, conversation, convocation, cooperation, coordination, coronation, corporation, correlation, corroboration, creation, cremation, criminalization, culmination, cultivation, dalmatian, damnation, decaffeination, deceleration, decentralization, decertification, declaration, decontamination, decoration, decriminalization, dedication, defamation, deflation, deformation, degeneration, degradation, dehumanization, dehydration, deification, deinstitutionalization, delegation, deliberation, delineation, demarcation, demilitarization, demobilization, democratization, demodulation, demonization, demonstration, demoralization, denationalization, denomination, denuclearization, denunciation, depopulation, depravation, depreciation, depredation, deprivation, deregulation, derivation, desalination, desalinization, desecration, desegregation, desiccation, designation, desolation, desperation, destabilization, destination, determination, detonation, detoxication, detoxification, devaluation, deviation, differentiation, dilation, discoloration, discontinuation, discrimination, disembarkation, disinclination, disinflation, disinformation, disintegration, dislocation, disorganization, dispensation, disqualification, dissemination, dissipation, dissociation, distillation, diversification, divination, domestication, domination, donation, dramatization, duplication, duration, echolocation, edification, education, ejaculation, elaboration, elation, electrification, elevation, elimination, elongation, emanation, emancipation, embarkation, emigration, emulation, enumeration, equalization, equivocation, eradication, escalation, estimation, evacuation, evaluation, evaporation, evocation, exacerbation, exaggeration, examination, exasperation, excavation, exclamation, excommunication, exfoliation, exhalation, exhilaration, exhumation, exoneration, expatriation, expiration, explanation, explication, exploration, expropriation, extermination, extrapolation, fabrication, falsification, fascination, federation, fertilization, fibrillation, figuration, filtration, fixation, fluctuation, fluoridation, foliation, formation, formulation, fortification, foundation, frustration, fumigation, gasification, gastrulation, generalization, generation, gentrification, germination, glaciation, globalization, glorification, gradation, graduation, granulation, gratification, gyration, hallucination, harmonization, hibernation, hospitalization, humiliation, hybridization, hydration, hydrogenation, hyperinflation, identification, illumination, illustration, imagination, immigration, immunization, impersonation, implication, impregnation, improvisation, inactivation, inauguration, incarceration, incarnation, inclination, incoordination, incorporation, incrimination, incubation, indemnification, indexation, indication, indignation, indoctrination, industrialization, infatuation, infiltration, inflammation, inflation, information, inhalation, initiation, innovation, inoculation, insemination, insinuation, inspiration, installation, instigation, institutionalization, insubordination, insulation, integration, intensification, internationalization, interrogation, intimation, intimidation, intonation, intoxication, inundation, invalidation, investigation, invocation, ionization, irradiation, irrigation, isolation, jubilation, justification, laceration, legalization, legislation, liberalization, liberation, libration, ligation, liquidation, litigation, localization, location, lubrication, machination, magnetization, magnification, malformation, manipulation, marginalization, masturbation, maturation, maximization, mechanization, mediation, medication, menstruation, migration, mineralization, miniaturization, ministration, misallocation, misapplication, misappropriation, miscalculation, mischaracterization, miscommunication, miscreation, misidentification, misinformation, mitigation, mobilization, moderation, modernization, modification, modulation, monopolization, motivation, multiplication, mummification, mutilation, narration, nation, nationalization, naturalization, navigation, negation, negotiation, neutralization, nitration, nomination, nondiscrimination, nonproliferation, normalization, notification, nucleation, nullification, obfuscation, obligation, observation, occupation, operation, optimization, oration, orchestration, ordination, organisation, organization, origination, oscillation, ossification, ovation, overpopulation, overregulation, overvaluation, ovulation, oxidation, pacification, pagination, participation, pasteurization, penetration, perforation, perpetuation, personalization, personification, perspiration, perturbation, polarization, politicization, pollination, pontification, popularization, population, predestination, prefabrication, preoccupation, preparation, preservation, pressurization, privation, privatization, probation, proclamation, procrastination, procreation, profanation, prognostication, proliferation, pronunciation, propagation, proration, prostration, provocation, publication, punctuation, purification, qualification, quantification, radiation, radicalization, ramification, ratification, rationalization, reaffirmation, realization, reallocation, reauthorization, recalculation, recapitalization, recertification, reclamation, reclassification, recommendation, reconciliation, reconfiguration, reconfirmation, reconsideration, recreation, recrimination, rectification, recuperation, redecoration, rededication, reevaluation, reexamination, reflation, reformation, refrigeration, regeneration, registration, regulation, rehydration, reincarnation, reincorporation, reinvigoration, reiteration, rejuvenation, relation, relaxation, relocation, remediation, remuneration, renationalization, renegotiation, renomination, renovation, renunciation, reorganization, reparation, repatriation, replication, repudiation, reregulation, reservation, resignation, respiration, restoration, retaliation, retardation, reunification, revaluation, revelation, reverberation, revitalization, revocation, rumination, salvation, sanctification, saponification, saturation, securitization, sedation, segregation, sensation, separation, sequestration, simplification, simulation, situation, socialization, sophistication, specialization, specification, speculation, stabilization, stagflation, stagnation, standardization, starvation, sterilization, stimulation, stipulation, strangulation, subluxation, subordination, subsidization, substantiation, suburbanization, suffocation, summation, syndication, tabulation, taxation, telecommunication, termination, titillation, toleration, transformation, transillumination, translation, trepidation, triangulation, tribulation, undervaluation, unification, unionization, urbanization, usurpation, utilization, vacation, vaccination, vacillation, validation, valuation, vaporization, variation, ventilation, verification, vibration, victimization, vilification, vindication, violation, visualization, vocation, vulgarization, westernization.
3-sh u nabduction, abolition, abortion, absolution, absorption, abstraction, academician, accession, accretion, acquisition, action, addiction, addition, admission, admonition, adoption, advection, affection, affliction, aggression, alliteration, alternation, ambition, ammunition, antiabortion, anticorruption, apparition, apportion, apprehension, ascension, ashen, assertion, assumption, attention, attraction, attribution, attrition, auction, audition, beautician, benediction, brutalization, caption, carburetion, caution, circulation, circumspection, clinician, coalition, coercion, cognition, collection, commission, commotion, compassion, competition, completion, complexion, composition, comprehension, compression, compulsion, compunction, conception, conceptualization, concession, concoction, concussion, condescension, condition, conduction, confection, confession, conjunction, connection, conniption, conscription, constitution, constriction, construction, consumption, contention, contortion, contraception, contraction, contradiction, contraption, contribution, contrition, convection, convention, conviction, convolution, convulsion, correction, corruption, counterrevolution, crucifixion, cushion, deception, decimation, decommission, decomposition, decompression, deconstruction, deduction, defection, definition, deletion, demolition, demotion, dentition, depiction, depletion, deposition, depression, dereliction, description, desertion, destitution, destruction, detection, detention, deterioration, devolution, devotion, diction, dietitian, diffraction, digression, dilution, dimension, diminution, direction, disaffection, disconnection, discretion, discussion, disinfection, disposition, disruption, dissatisfaction, dissection, dissension, dissolution, distinction, distortion, distraction, distribution, dysfunction, edition, egyptian, ejection, election, electrician, electrocution, elocution, emission, emotion, emulsion, encryption, erection, erudition, eruption, eviction, evolution, exaction, exception, excoriation, excretion, execution, exemption, exertion, exhibition, expansion, expedition, exposition, expression, expulsion, extension, extinction, extortion, extraction, extradition, faction, fashion, fiction, fission, flexion, formalization, fraction, freshen, friction, fruition, function, gentian, geriatrician, gumption, hessian, homogenization, hypertension, hypotension, ignition, impassion, imperfection, imposition, impression, inaction, inception, incineration, indiscretion, induction, infarction, infection, inflection, infliction, infraction, inhibition, injection, injunction, inquisition, inscription, insertion, inspection, institution, instruction, insurrection, interaction, interception, intercession, interconnection, interdiction, interjection, intermission, interruption, intersection, introduction, introspection, intuition, invention, junction, jurisdiction, juxtaposition, lilliputian, liposuction, liquefaction, locomotion, logician, lotion, magician, malfunction, malnutrition, mansion, martian, mathematician, mention, midsection, misapprehension, misconception, misimpression, misperception, mission, mortician, motion, munition, musician, nonaggression, nonfiction, nonprescription, notion, nutrition, objection, obsession, obstetrician, obstruction, ocean, omission, opposition, oppression, optician, option, overconsumption, overexpansion, overproduction, overprotection, overreaction, oversimplification, partition, passion, patrician, pediatrician, pension, perception, percussion, perfection, permission, persecution, petition, physician, politician, pollution, portion, position, possession, potion, precaution, precession, preconception, precondition, prediction, predilection, predisposition, preelection, preemption, preignition, premonition, prescription, presumption, presupposition, pretension, prevention, procession, production, profession, progression, prohibition, projection, promotion, proportion, proposition, propulsion, proscription, prosecution, prostitution, protection, ration, reaction, reassertion, reception, recession, recognition, recollection, recondition, reconstruction, redefinition, redemption, redirection, redistribution, reduction, reeducation, reelection, reflection, regression, reimposition, reinspection, reintegration, reintroduction, reinvention, rejection, remission, rendition, repercussion, repetition, reposition, repossession, repression, reproduction, requisition, resolution, restitution, restriction, resumption, resurrection, retention, retraction, retransmission, retribution, revolution, revulsion, rhetorician, sanction, satisfaction, secession, secretion, section, sedition, seduction, selection, session, solution, statistician, submission, subscription, subsection, substation, substitution, subtraction, succession, suction, superstition, supposition, suppression, suspension, suspicion, syncopation, tactician, technician, tension, theoretician, titian, traction, tradition, transaction, transcription, transection, transgression, transition, transmission, tuition, venetian, volition, workstation.

Source: compiled by the editor (additional references); see credits.

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Anagrams: Confrontation

Scrabble® Enable2K-Verified Anagrams

Words within the letters "a-c-f-i-n-n-n-o-o-o-r-t-t"

-2 letters: connotation.

-3 letters: contortion, coronation, corotation.

-4 letters: nonaction, nonfactor.

-5 letters: conation, confront, fraction, nonactor, notation, rotation, traction.

 Words containing the letters "a-c-f-i-n-n-n-o-o-o-r-t-t"
 

+1 letter: confrontations.

 

+2 letters: confrontational.

 

+3 letters: confrontationist, nonconfrontation.

 

+4 letters: confrontationists, nonconfrontations.

 

+5 letters: nonconfrontational.

Source: compiled by the editor from various references; see credits.

SCRABBLE® is a registered trademark. All intellectual property rights in and to the game are owned in the U.S.A and Canada by Hasbro Inc., and throughout the rest of the world by J.W. Spear & Sons Limited of Maidenhead, Berkshire, England, a subsidiary of Mattel Inc. Mattel and Spear are not affiliated with Hasbro.

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INDEX

1. Definition
2. Synonyms
3. Crosswords
4. Usage: Modern
5. Usage: Commercial
6. Images: Slideshow
7. Quotations: Non-fiction
8. Quotations: Spoken
9. Quotations: Speeches
10. Usage Frequency
11. Expressions
12. Expressions: Internet
13. Translations: Modern
14. Translations: Ancient
15. Derivations
16. Rhymes
17. Anagrams
18. Bibliography


  

Copyright © Philip M. Parker, INSEAD. Terms of Use.