con|form /kənfɔː r m/ (conforms , conforming , conformed )
1 VERB If something conforms to something such as a law or someone's wishes, it is of the required type or quality. □ [V + to/with ] The lamp has been designed to conform to British safety requirements.
2 VERB If you conform , you behave in the way that you are expected or supposed to behave. □ [V ] Many children who can't or don't conform are often bullied. □ [V + to/with ] He did not feel obliged to conform to the rules that applied to ordinary men.
3 VERB If someone or something conforms to a pattern or type, they are very similar to it. □ [V + to ] I am well aware that we all conform to one stereotype or another.
con|form|ist /kənfɔː r m I st/ (conformists ) ADJ Someone who is conformist behaves or thinks like everyone else rather than doing things that are original. □ He may have to become more conformist if he is to prosper again. ● N‑COUNT A conformist is someone who is conformist.
con|form|ity /kənfɔː r m I ti/
1 N‑UNCOUNT If something happens in conformity with something such as a law or someone's wishes, it happens as the law says it should, or as the person wants it to. □ The prime minister is, in conformity with the constitution, chosen by the president.
2 N‑UNCOUNT Conformity means behaving in the same way as most other people. □ Excessive conformity is usually caused by fear of disapproval.
con|found /kənfaʊ nd/ (confounds , confounding , confounded ) VERB If someone or something confounds you, they make you feel surprised or confused, often by showing you that your opinions or expectations of them were wrong. □ [V n] The choice of Governor may confound us all.
con|front ◆◇◇ /kənfrʌ nt/ (confronts , confronting , confronted )
1 VERB If you are confronted with a problem, task, or difficulty, you have to deal with it. □ [be V -ed + with/by ] She was confronted with severe money problems. □ [V n] Ministers underestimated the magnitude of the task confronting them.
2 VERB If you confront a difficult situation or issue, you accept the fact that it exists and try to deal with it. □ [V n] We are learning how to confront death. □ [V n] NATO countries have been forced to confront fundamental moral questions.
3 VERB [usu passive] If you are confronted by something that you find threatening or difficult to deal with, it is there in front of you. □ [be V -ed + with/by ] I was confronted with an array of knobs, levers, and switches.
4 VERB If you confront someone, you stand or sit in front of them, especially when you are going to fight, argue, or compete with them. □ [V n] She pushed her way through the mob and confronted him face to face. □ [V n] The candidates confronted each other during a televised debate.
5 VERB If you confront someone with something, you present facts or evidence to them in order to accuse them of something. □ [V n + with ] She had decided to confront Kathryn with what she had learnt. □ [V n + about ] I could not bring myself to confront him about it. □ [V n] His confronting me forced me to search for the answers. SYNONYMS confront VERB
2
tackle: The first reason to tackle these problems is to save children's lives.
deal with: She saw a psychiatrist who used hypnotism to help her deal with her fear.
brave: Thousands have braved icy rain to demonstrate their support.
cope: She has had to cope with losing all her previous status and money.
face up to: They were having to face up to the fact that they had lost everything.
4
tackle: I tackled him about how anyone could live amidst so much poverty.
challenge: I challenged him on the hypocrisy of his political attitudes.
oppose: Mr Taylor was not bitter towards those who had opposed him.
stand up to: He shouted at me, so I shouted back–the first time in my life I'd stood up to him.
con|fron|ta|tion ◆◇◇ /kɒ nfrʌnte I ʃ ə n/ (confrontations ) N‑VAR A confrontation is a dispute, fight, or battle between two groups of people. □ [+ with ] The commission remains so weak that it will continue to avoid confrontation with governments.
con|fron|ta|tion|al /kɒ nfrʌnte I ʃən ə l/ ADJ If you describe the way that someone behaves as confrontational , you are showing your disapproval of the fact that they are aggressive and likely to cause an argument or dispute. [DISAPPROVAL ] □ The committee's confrontational style of campaigning has made it unpopular.
con|fuse /kənfjuː z/ (confuses , confusing , confused )
1 VERB If you confuse two things, you get them mixed up, so that you think one of them is the other one. □ [V n] Great care is taken to avoid confusing the two types of projects. □ [V n + with ] I can't see how anyone could confuse you with another! ● con|fu|sion /kənfjuː ʒ ə n/ N‑UNCOUNT □ Use different colours of felt pen on your sketch to avoid confusion.
2 VERB To confuse someone means to make it difficult for them to know exactly what is happening or what to do. □ [V n] German politics surprised and confused him.
3 VERB To confuse a situation means to make it complicated or difficult to understand. □ [V n] To confuse the issue, the amount of sleep people need varies enormously.